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TRENT UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY

A LITERARY

MIDDLE ENGLISH READER

EDITED BY

ALBERT STANBURROUGH COOK

PROFESSOR OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE
IN YALE UNIVERSITY

GINN AND COMPANY

BOSTON • NEW YORK • CHICAGO • LONDON
ATLANTA • DALLAS • COLUMBUS • SAN FRANCISCO

PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
329.IO

Stfjenseum -press

GINN AND COMPANY* PRO¬
PRIETORS • BOSTON • U.S.A

TO MY WIFE

ELIZABETH MERRILL COOK
WHOSE INSPIRATION AND HELP
HAVE MADE THIS BOOK POSSIBLE

135354

Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2019 with funding from
Kahle/Austin Foundation

https://archive.org/details/literarymiddleenOOOOcook

PREFACE

Only two questions need to be satisfactorily answered in order to
insure for Middle English literature a much larger place in college
courses than it has hitherto occupied. These two questions are : Is
the literature of this period worth reading ? and, Can it be read
without a learned apparatus so formidable as to constitute a serious
deterrent ? The first question I have endeavored to answer in the
Introduction ; and to the second my affirmative reply is indicated
in the whole method I have followed.

This book, then, has been framed, not in the interest of grammar,
or of dialectical study, or of lexicography, but of literary enjoyment
and profit. It has been made somewhat copious, that those whc
desire only easier selections may be able to avoid the harder, that it
may be possible to examine certain species and ignore others, and yet
that the more comprehensive student shall have before him a fairly
full conspectus of the literature as a whole. If I have not failed in
my attempt, the texts included ought not to be much harder to
read than if they were Elizabethan, and those who read them will be
acquainting themselves with an earlier and no less important age.

Authorities vary with respect to the limits of the Middle English
period, the variation as to the beginning being between noo and
1200, and as to the end between 1400 and 1500. Some scholars,
such as Sweet, call the language between 1100 and 1200 Transition
Old English, and that between 1400 and 1500 Transition Middle
English. In this book Middle English is assumed to cover 1100-
1500. In two instances, works only to be found in manuscripts
of later date than 1500 are assigned, on what seem to the editor
sufficient grounds, to the fifteenth century.

The classification here observed is according to literary species,
and not according to dialect or chronology. The species of litera¬
ture are, however, not so clearly delimited in Middle English as in

PREFACE

some other tongues, notably in Greek, so that the classification of
certain pieces must be regarded as only approximative.

No separate vocabulary has been provided, and no separate body
of notes. On each page the reader will find, it is hoped, what is es¬
sential for a sufficient understanding of that page ; if this has entailed
a certain amount of repetition, or what to some minds may seem ex¬
cess, in the defining of words, it must be borne in mind that he who
is able to read while running is not obliged to pause. The general
introduction has been made brief. The prefatory notes to the various
selections are longer or shorter, according to circumstances. The list
of helpful books will enable the student to extend his inquiries in a
variety of directions.

The editor has used his own judgment with respect to punctuation
and capitalization, has normalized i and y, u and v, capitalized the
first personal pronoun, and substituted 'Jesu’ for the ordinary 'Jhesu’
— which is due to a misapprehension. In the constitution of certain
texts he has emended somewhat freely, but has always endeavored to
supply the means of restoring the manuscript readings or the text
of an earlier editor ; where there is reason to suppose that the latter
faithfully represents the manuscript, it has been referred to in the
footnotes as ' MS.’

An effort has been made to give due credit in each specific case
of indebtedness ; if there has been any failure in this respect, it is
involuntary.

If this book succeeds in making the Middle Ages seem more
attractive, more clearly related to modern times, or more profoundly
suggestive, the editor will be satisfied. To him Middle English
literature helps to make England, not less real, but more visionary,
in the sense of Kipling’s lines :

She is not any common Earth,

Water or wood or air,

But Merlin’s Isle of Gramarye,

Where you and I will fare.

SCHOLASTIKA, TYROL

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

PAGE

I. The Literature . xiii

II. The Language . xviii

III. Some Useful Books for the Study of Middle English xxvi

ROMANCES

Malory, Morte Darthur . i

Lancelot and Elaine . 2

Tristram and Isolde: The Love-Drink . 7

The Quest of the Holy Grail: The Vow . 8

King Horn . 1 1

Havelok the Dane . 17

Gower, Confessio Amantis . ; 34

Apollonius of Tyre .... 35

Arson's Restoration to Youth . 45

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight . 53

Thomas of Erceldoune . 70

Amis and Amiloun . 81

Sir Orfeo . 88

Chaucer, Sir Thopas . 108

TALES

Chaucer, Prioress’ Tale: The Little Choir-Boy . . . . 117

The Imprisoned Wife (Inclusa) . 125

Dame Sirith . 141

Robin Hood and the Monk . 158

King Robert of Sicily . >67

Chaucer, Clerk’s Tale: The Story of Griselda .... 173

The Fox and the Wolf . 188

Chaucer, Nun’s Priest’s Tale: The Cock and the Fox . . 198

vii

CONTENTS

viii

CHRONICLES

PAGE

Layamon, Brut . 2I9

Layamon’s Account of Himself . 219

The Prophecy of Diana . 220

The Building of London . • 223

The Division of Lear’s Kingdom . 225

Caesar’s Battle with the Britons . 229

Cymbeline and the Birth of Christ . 233

The Old English Chronicle: The Reign of Stephen

(A.D. 1137) . 235

Barbour, The Bruce . 237

Sir James Douglas . 238

The Winning of Roxburgh Castle . 240

The Battle of Bannockburn (A.D. 1314) . 244

STORIES OF TRAVEL

Sir John Mandeville . 248

The Rebirth of the Phoenix . 248

The Paradise of the Old Man of the Mountain . 250

The Fountain of Youth . 252

St. Thomas and Indian Idolatry . 253

The Sultan of Egypt . 255

The Earth is Round . 256

The Terrestrial Paradise . 259

Sir John’s Modesty . 260

A Pilgrimage to Compostella . 261

RELIGIOUS AND DIDACTIC PIECES

Rolle, The Form of Perfect Living . 265

The Love of God . 266

The Active and the Contemplative Life . 267

CONTENTS

PAGE

The Ancren Riwle . 2gg

Anchoresses not to look out upon the World . 270

The Beauty of Silence . .

The Happiness of Anchoresses is like that of the Birds of Heaven 273

The Kingly Wooer . 274

The Anchoress’ Cat, her Clothing and Occupations .... 275

The Anchoress’ Health . 277

A Treatise against Miracle-Plays . 278

Mirk, Instructions for Parish Priests . 287

The Character of a Priest . 287

Behavior in Church . 288

The Creed . 289

The Vanities of the Flesh . 290

Sins of Carelessness . 291

The Pronouncing of Excommunication . 291

Form of Excommunication (I) . 292

Form of Excommunication (II) . 292

The Rule of St. Benedict . 293

The Hours for Meals . 294

Daily Occupations . 295

Lenten Observance . 296

The Entertainment of Guests . 297

The Nun’s Clothing . 298

The Porter . 300

Robert Mannyng of Brunne, Handling Sin . 300

The Proper Way of keeping Holy Days . 301

The Evil of Tournaments . 303

Bishop Grosseteste of Lincoln . 305

Quiet in Church and Churchyard during the Time of Service 306
The Tale of the Miner . 307

The Book of the Knight of La Tour-Landry . 309

Prologue . 309

The Story of the Magpie . 3 1 1

The Story of the Obedient Wife . 312

How St. Bernard’s Sister was led away from Vanities . . . 313

Gesta Romanorum : The Magic Image . 314

CONTENTS

PAGE

The Bestiary . 3

The Whale (Turtle) . 3 1 6

The Panther . 3 1 9

The Owl and the Nightingale . 321

Piers the Plowman . 334

Prologue . 335

Meed the Maiden . 339

Gluttony . 345

Sloth the Parson . 34§

Piers the Plowman . 35°

Piers the Plowman’s Creed . 352

ILLUSTRATIONS OF LIFE AND MANNERS

Song against the Friars . 361

On the Minorite Friars . . 364

The Reply of Friar Daw Topias . 366

The Land of Cokaygne . 367

The Gossips’ Feast . 372

Stans Puer ad Mensam . 377

Charm for the Toothache . 379

Preface to a Treatise on Medicine . 379

A Mediaeval Will . 381

The Libel of English Policy . 382

The Guild of St. Leonard .... 387

TRANSLATIONS

Chaucer, The Romance of the Rose . 389

The Joys of Spring . . 390

The River and the Garden . 392

The Picture of Old Age . 393

Chaucer’s Translation of Boethius . 394

The Former Age . 397

CONTENTS

PAGE

Wycliffite Translations of the Bible . 398

Job 41. 20-28 ; 42.4-25 . 398

John 1 7. 1-6 . 400

Revelation 14 . 400

Versions of Psalm 51. 1-3 . 402

LYRICS

Cuckoo Song . 406

Spring . 407

When the Nightingale sings . 408

Alison . 410

Chaucer, Bird-Song . 41 1

Blow, Northern Wind . 412

Longing . 414

Now would I Fain . 416

Chaucer, Merciless Beauty . 417

Debate of the Cleric and the Maiden . 418

Chaucer, Ballade . 420

Minot, Edward the Third’s First Invasion of France . . 421

The Death of Edward III . 425

Chaucer, Complaint to his Empty Purse . 428

I have a Gentle Cock . 429

Bachelor’s Song . 430

Chaucer, Truth . 431

Ubi sunt qui ante nos fuerunt? . 432

Thomas of Hales, Love-Song . 433

Earth upon Earth . 436

Filius Regis Mortuus est . 438

Quia Amore langueo . 439

He bare him up . 44°

The Pearl . 44 1

Godric’s Hymns . 453

Hymn to the Virgin . 454

Hymn of Burgwine, Godric’s Sister . 454

Hymn to St. Nicholas . 455

I sigh when I sing . 455

CONTENTS

xii

PAGE

A Song to the Virgin . 457

Stand well, Mother, under Rood . 459

As I rode . 462

When Christ was born of Mary Free . 464

At Christmas, Maid Mary . 465

I sing of a Maiden . 466

Lullay, my Child . 466

The Shepherd upon a Hill he sat . 468

Judas . 47°

St. Stephen and Herod . 472

Chaucer, Invocation to Venus . 474

Chaucer, Invocation to the Trinity . 475

PLAYS

The Cleric and the Maiden . 476

The Chester Noah’s Flood . 481

The Brome Play of Abraham and Isaac . . 497

The York Nativity Play . 518

The Second Towneley Shepherds’ Play (Secunda Pastorum) 524

INTRODUCTION

I. THE LITERATURE

Mediaeval European literature — at least if we except technical
works and prose chronicles or histories — is characterized, in contrast
with the ancient classics, by a certain expansiveness, resulting at
times in an approach to garrulity. The author is not bent upon
treating the matter in hand with the utmost economy, in order with
the fewest possible strokes to achieve the finest proportions, the
utmost simplicity, the most telling effect. The mediaeval writer is
more apt to be loose and desultory. At times he does not hesitate to
be long-winded in description, discursive in the development of epi¬
sodic reflection, tedious in the analysis of sentiment, or didactic in the
enforcement of a moral. In all too few instances has he a sure sense
of art — avoiding superfluity and digressions, and making straight
for his goal. He employs repetition — for instance, in the refrain,
or in the recurrent lines of the roundel ; and, for the sake of rhyme,
or to fill out a line, he will introduce conventional, almost mean¬
ingless, tags.

Vernacular writing in the Middle Ages was primarily addressed to
the laity — to people who had not received the training of the
schools, and who therefore were unaccustomed to strict sequences of
thought, or to the measure and sobriety of perfect art. This may be
dearly seen by the way in which translations are expanded — always
excepting prose versions of the Bible and of some theological trea¬
tises. Chaucer,1 in translating Boethius, uses three times as many
words as the Latin verse, and more than twice as many as the Latin
prose. The 38 words of Psalm 51. 1-3 2 in the Vulgate are con¬
verted by a late Middle English paraphrast into 194. Such transla¬
tions, being less compact than the originals, made fewer demands

xiii

1 See pp. 394-5-

2 See pp. 402 ff.

XIV

INTRODUCTION

upon the reader; he found them easier to follow, though his wits
may have gone wandering before he reached the end.

Such absence of restraint may, according to circumstances, affect
readers of to-day variously. Some things mediaeval we may all find
tedious, some things puerile ; some things, on the other hand, simple,
direct, and sweet — childlike, rather than childish. But take the
pseudo-Mandeville,1 for instance ; is it easy to dismiss him with an
epithet to which we should all assent ? Is his book incredibly stupid
- — as much of it is certainly incredible — - or is it always amusing ?
As easy to answer this, perhaps, as another question — is the com¬
piler naively credulous, or is he an astute romancer ? Perhaps neither
the one nor the other, or rather both. Searching criticism reveals that
some of his information rests on good authorities, and is true ; other
things are truth magnified and embellished by a purple mist ; and
still others are ancient poetry or fiction regarded as contemporary
fact. His book is rambling, incoherent, uninstructive, if you will ;
but to some minds it is charming. Piers Plowman leads us nowhither ;
but on the road we drop in at a tavern, and the low life of England
under the senile Edward or the adolescent Richard is as plain before
us as that of Holland in a picture by Teniers or Jan Steen, so that
we look and listen in spite of ourselves.

All this is Gothic, both in the sense that we recognize, and in that
which appealed to our ancestors of the eighteenth century. It lacks
restraint ; it is flamboyant ; it sins by excess ; it seems to emphasize
the detail, and neglect the ensemble ; its gargoyles grin, no less than
its saints aspire ; it comprehends legend, poetry, and record of fact
— - but who shall say where legend ends and fact begins ? On the
other hand, it is rich, and varied, and alive ; not all the forms are
noble or beautiful, but most are interesting ; and there is often a
science of structure when least suspected, though sometimes instinc¬
tive, sometimes empirical, and sometimes insufficient, like that which
left the tower of Beauvais a heap of ruined stones.

And as Gothic borrowed something from Byzantine art, so there
are Oriental elements in mediaeval literature — not only such as are
derived from the Bible and the primitive liturgies, but those that

1 See pp. 248 ff.

THE LITERATURE

came in with pilgrim, merchant, and Crusader, visible more especially
in tale and romance.

The Gothic cathedrals of the consummated Middle Ages suc¬
ceeded, and in some sense grew out of, the earlier Romanesque, with
its obvious, if somewhat oppressive, structure and solidity. The
Romanesque church embodies the classic principles illustrated by
the Roman arch and the Roman basilica, just as Augustine and
Bede continue the Roman literary tradition. The latter have more
moderation, more severity, than a Bonaventura or a Richard Rolle.
The cathedral is more florid, more airy, more gorgeous with flam¬
ing color than the Romanesque church ; but it is more crumbling,
and tends more swiftly to decadence and overthrow. The simpler
Gothic runs apace into the Flamboyant, and lo, before one can
realize it, it has slid into the earlier Renaissance. So it is with
literature ; so it is with society. Beauty flowers for a moment out
of strength ; but pass by a few days later, and the blossom is faded,
the glory departed.

Thus far, however, we have been disregarding certain works
which appear even in the high mediaeval period, but which differ
notably from those that we have been attempting to characterize.
They are works of measure and sobriety, like those of classic antiq¬
uity, rigorously planned ; in them every line is structural, and you
must read every line in order to be impressed by the magnitude, the
logic, or the splendor of the whole. Of these the supreme type is
the Divine Comedy. True, the Divine Comedy has been compared to
a cathedral, not without reason ; but the Gothic cathedral was never
finished ; many accretions to its original design might have fallen out
otherwise ; it did not represent a basic style, out of which others
might in due course proceed ; it was not, in the same sense as the
Romanesque, grounded, massive, eternal. In all these respects
Dante’s poem might be compared to the earlier form. No one has
been able to suggest an essential improvement in it ; in itself, and
through its outgrowths, it dominates all later European poetry of the
chivalrous or ' romantic ’ temper. The lineaments of Beatrice swim
before every ardent Christian lover, and Stephen Phillips can still
write of Paolo and Francesca.

XVI

INTRODUCTION

Why has Dante this power and this permanence ? Partly because
he was Dante — that is, a genius ; but also because, by his own
avowal, he placed himself under the tutelage of Virgil, and hence
of Homer.

In a measure, the same thing is true of Boccaccio. His long-
winded romances have not endured ; but the Decameron , written
with classic restraint and finish, has not only survived, but is still a
model of prose. If we meet with comparatively little of this sort in
Middle English, it is because the Renaissance began to exert its
power much earlier in Italy than in England, or even in France.

But if we may expect few well-rounded wholes in Middle English
literature, we must recognize that the poetic faculty, released from
the strenuous and incessant task of watching over the complete
organism at every step, is the more free to abandon itself at any
moment to the full tide of occasional sentiment — comic, pathetic,
tender, or wistful. A piece otherwise marred by imperfections may
thus have lovely or poignant bits, so irresistible as to suffuse a glow
over the composition as a whole, and blind our eyes to the faults
which readily disclose themselves to reflection. And since, speaking
broadly, the demands that we may make upon Middle English liter¬
ature are restricted by considerations of form, it is with peculiar satis¬
faction that we now and then come upon a complete piece, as in
Chaucer at his best, that endures the most searching trials, and yields
unalloyed pleasure at every reperusal. But such encounters in Chaucer
cause a deeper regret that so large a part of his writing is frag¬
mentary, that his assignment of the several Canterbury tales to the
personages of the pilgrimage is not always convincing, and that his
greatest work, when viewed in the light of his own avowed plan,
remains a torso.

To begin, and never to end, or to end only by stopping when
fatigue or caprice dictates ; to project what can never be compassed,
or what is amorphous in its very conception ; to reveal beauty only
in glimpses, anon to be swallowed in convention or dulness — this it
is to belong to the typical Middle Age, oppressed and glorified by its
sense of the infinite, and seeing visions of starry brightness projected
against a background of violence and fraud, of triumphant injustice

THE LITERATURE

xvi 1

and unbearable oppression. The Crusades, the Hundred Years’
War, typify in the world of action some of the literary and architec¬
tural phenomena that we have been attempting to describe — doomed
to be abortive from their very nature, uninspired in many, perhaps
most, of their particulars, but illumined by flashes of heroism and of
generous sentiment, too fine to be steadily realized in the even course
of a workaday world. In this respect the classic ideal, both of life
and art, is more compassable, because, more modest. Horace accom¬
plishes what he undertakes more evenly, more uniformly, than Chau¬
cer — yet shall I hesitate to say that some of us prefer Chaucer ?

Whatever we may deny to our Middle English authors, in certain
respects they are unrivaled. The wistfulness of regret for vanished
glories, the sympathy with an outcast and bereaved wife, the mirthful
interest in the mimic manhood of the barnyard, the joyous partici¬
pation in the young life of the Maytime, the swift change by which
the clowns and thieves of a Yorkshire moorside are transported to
the Judean plains and the presence of the Divine Child in his sweet
and touching innocence — these things have a perennial savor, a
persistent appeal, even as the sorrows of Lear, the maiden grace
of Miranda, the humors of Falstaff, or the piteous pleadings of
Desdemona.

II. THE LANGUAGE

LETTERS

The letters are the same as in modern English (but see below),
with the addition of 5 (<5), J> ()?), and 0 (D). ^ (from an old

manuscript-form of g) is used for modern English gh (often before
t) and for y (at the beginning or end of a syllable), p (thorn) and
3 (eth, as in weather ) represent th , and are used interchangeably with
th and each other.

J is represented in the manuscripts by i, and v by u ; so that,
strictly speaking, j and v should be subtracted from the total number
of letters. Y is very frequently used for i, and the two are virtually
interchangeable as vowels.

PRONUNCIATION

There are two possible ways of pronouncing Middle English —
one for quick understanding, the other for beauty. According to the
first, one reads the text like so much modern English, at the same
time converting the words, wherever possible, into their modern Eng¬
lish forms. This answers sufficiently well in the case of prose, or
of poetry written without much regard to metrical principles ; but
it should always be regarded as a makeshift, and, in the strict sense,
as unscholarly. Perhaps the aptest apology for it would be found in
our reading Shakespeare as modern English, in spite of the fact that
to Shakespeare himself our modern pronunciation would, to a large
degree, have seemed unintelligible or barbarous.

The second mode of pronunciation, essential to the just rendering
of artistic verse, takes account of two things — strict metre, and the
quite different values of certain letters, especially the vowels, from
those of modern English. By attending to these, much Middle
English poetry may be made beautiful to the ear which otherwise

xviii

THE LANGUAGE

xix

would sound commonplace or uncouth ; and this result is quite
worth the trouble involved.

The recognition of metrical technique in Middle English depends
chiefly upon the pronunciation of final -e (besides -es, etc., in un¬
stressed positions). As a rule, final -e is always to be regarded as
forming a separate syllable ; but before vowels, the commonest words
beginning with h, and occasionally elsewhere, it is silent. The sim¬
plest rule is this : In verse, always pronounce final -e (-es, etc.)
where it will conduce to the melody of the line, but suppress it in
the comparatively rare instances where it does not. Such -e’s are
always to be pronounced like the -a in era or vista. The -e of -ed,
-el, -en, -er is also to be suppressed when metre so requires.

Besides the final unstressed -e, there is also a stressed -e — often
represented by -y in modern English ; thus, cite (i.e. cit6), city.

Vowels

Short vowels are pronounced about as in modern English, but a
nearly as ah (yiever like a in hat ) ; o always rounded (produced with
rounded lips ; about like aw, but shorter), and never pronounced like a
in modern ah ; u as in pull , not as in dull. From the normal o is to
be distinguished an o which is equivalent to u, and originally was u ;
it can be known by its always corresponding to the modern English o
or u pronounced as u in sun : e.g. Middle English sonne, sone, love,
etc. (OE. sunne, sunu, lufu, etc.), modern English sun , son, love , etc.

Long vowels are never pronounced as in modern English, but
as in the European pronunciation of Latin, or approximately as in
Italian, French, or German, thus:

o close as in blow
o open as in b?vad
u as in rule

a as in father
e (ee) close as in they
e (ee) open as in there
i as in pique

Close and open e can only be discriminated by the student of Old
English ; close o is oo in modern English, open o being o, oa , etc.
The double vowels, ee and oo, merely indicate long e and o, and are
never to be pronounced as in modem English.

INTRODUCTION

Diphthongs

The diphthongs ei and ui are to be pronounced like the first ele¬
ment followed by the second, and with the first element stressed.
The remaining diphthongs are thus pronounced :

ai as in aisle

au (aw) as in house (Ger. Haus)
eu (ew) as in few
iu (iw) as in few
oi as in boil

ou (ow) as in boor, when now pronounced as in out, cow
ou (ow) as o + u (nearly as o ), in all cases but the preceding

Consonants

c pronounced as k or s, under the same circumstances as in modern
English ; ci not = sh, but = si (modern Eng. see)
ch as in modern English, except before t, when it was pronounced like
the ch in Ger. ich after e, i, or y, and like ch in Ger. auch after the
other vowels

g as in gold, except occasionally as in gem ; ght like cht (see above)

5 initial = y ; jt like cht

h final sometimes like the ch of cht : sih, Jmrh
ht like cht

kn never like n, but = k + n
s like 2 between vowels, as in modern English
sch like sh

si not = sh, but = modern Eng. see

p, 3 like th (both sounds) in modern English

tu not = chu : na-tu-re

Double consonants before a vowel are always pronounced twice : renne =
ren + ne ; thridde = thrid + de

THE LANGUAGE

xxi

INFLECTION

Nouns

The genitive singular and the plural regularly end in -(e)s (occa¬
sionally -is, -us ; -(e)z) ; the dative in -e, or without ending. To such
irregular plurals (identical with the singular) as occur in the Modern
English sheep, swine , etc., add hors. Certain original feminines like
lady, halle, sonne, sometimes retain the nominative form in the geni¬
tive singular ; to these add the nouns of relationship, fader, brother,
moder, etc., which, however, sometimes have -s. A few nouns of the
Old English weak declension end in -n in the plural, like been, bees ;
yen, eyes (modem poetic eyne') ; schoon, shoes (modern poetic shooti),
and are occasionally followed by others which more normally would
end in -s (see, for example, Layamon).

Adjectives

The plural and the dative singular of adjectives ending in a con¬
sonant are often formed by the addition of -e. When the adjective is
preceded by the definite article, a demonstrative, or a possessive, -e
is sometimes appended : the grete honour ; his white baner.

Pronouns

The only forms which are not fairly self-explanatory are those of
the feminine personal pronoun. The typical paradigm follows :

Sing. N. h(e)o ; s(c)ho, s(c)he

i, hur(e), her(e)

A. hi(e), hir(e), hur(e), her(e)

Plur. N. h(i)e ; thei, thai

G. her(e), h(e)or(e) ; their(e)

l he(o)m, hi(o)m ; the(i)m, tha(i)m

The plurals of the personal pronouns of all genders are identical
with those of the feminine. The genitive and dative singular of hit,
it, are the same as those of the masculine : his, him.

XXII

INTRODUCTION

Of the second person, ye is nominative; you, yow, dative and
accusative.

Tho and thos(e) are independent demonstratives, each meaning
those.

Verbs

The normal endings of the verb (disregarding the subjunctive) are :

Ind. Pres. Sing, i.-e
2. -est
3- -eth
Plur. -e(n)

Weak Verbs

Ind. Pret. Sing. i. 3. -fe)de, -te

2. -(e)dest, -test
Plur. -(e)de(n), -te(n)

Imper. Sing, -e, —

Plur. -e, -eth, —

Infin. -e(n), — ; occasionally, -in, -yn

Pres. Part, -ing(e) ; -inde (-ende, -and)

Past Part. -(e)d, -t (of weak verbs) ; -e(n), -n (of strong verbs)

Strong Verbs

-e(n)

The ind. pres. 3 sing, of a stem ending in -t or -d is often con¬
densed to -t : thus, sit = sitth (for modem sitteth).

The following are the more important irregular verbs.

Conjugation of be(n), beo(n), be.

indicative subjunctive

Pres. Sing. i. be(o) ; am, aem ; neg. nam 1. 2. 3. b(e)o, be, bi

2. be(e)st ; Northern es, is, bese ;

art, ert ; with pers. pron.
artu, artow ; neg. nart

3. beth, beo(th) ; is, ys ; Northern

bes(e), es ; neg. nis, nys

Plur. beo(th), be(e)th, be(o)n, be(ne) ; be(n)

Northern es, is; synd(en) ;
ar(e)n, ern, are, ere

THE LANGUAGE

xxiii

Pret. Sing.

Plur.
Imper. Sing.
Plur.

Pres. Part.

i. 3. was, watz ; neg. nas
2. were

wer(e), war(e)
were

were(n)

be(n), bene, beon

were(n), ware(n)
be(o) Infin.

be(o)th

beende, being(e) Past Part. (i)be(o)n, (i)be(o), bene

Conjugation of habben, have(n), have.

indicative

subjunctive

Pres. Sing. i. (h)abbe, have

2. hafest, ha(ve)st ; Northern

havis, has(e), hatz ; with pers.
pron. hastow

3. habbeth, haveth, hath ; North¬

ern havis, has

Plur. habbeth, haveth, have, han ;
Northern havis, has(e)

Pret. Sing. i. 3. hafede, haved(e), haedde, had(d)e
2. hevedest, haddist ; Northern
hade

1. 2. 3. (h)abbe, have

have(n)

1. 2. 3. [Like Ind. 1
and 3]

Plur.
Imper. Sing.
Plur.

Pres. Part.

haefden, hadde(n), haveden
ha(f)e, have Infin.

habbeth, haveth

haebbende, hafand, Past Part.

having(e)

[Like Ind.]
habben, haven, han

(i)haved, (i)hafd,
(i)had

Conjugation of go(n), ga(n), go.

Ind. Pres. Sing. i. go, ga ; 2. gost, gast, gest ; 3. goth, gath ;
Northern gaeth, gaes ; Plur. goth, gath, go(n), ga(n). Pret.
eode, geode, yede, yode, wente. Past Part, (i)gan, (i)go(n),
went.

Conjugation of cunne(n), conne(n), know, be able.

Ind. Pres. Sing. i. 3. can(n), con(n) ; 2. canst, const; Plur.
cunne(n), conne(n), cunneth. Pret. c(o)uthe, cowthe, coude.
Past Part. c(o)uth.

XXIV

INTRODUCTION

Conjugation of - , may, must.

Pres. Sing. i. 3. mot; 2. most(e); Plur. mote(n). Pret. Sing.
1. 3. most(e) ; 2. mostes(t) ; Plur. moste(n).

(By the early fifteenth century, at latest, the preterit forms were also
used as present.)

Conjugation of mujen, mowe(n), be able, be permitted.

Ind. Pres. Sing. i. 3. mai(s), mey, may(e) ; 2. miht, maist ;
Plur. mase(n), mawen, muse, muwe(n), mow, mowe(n). Pret.
Sing. i. 3. mihte, mo(u)ht(e), myst ; 2. mihtes(t) ; Plur.
mihte(n).

Conjugation of - , shall.

Ind. Pres. Sing. i. 3. s(h)al(l), schal(l) ; 2. s(c)halt ; Northern
sail ; with personal pronoun shaltow ; Plur. s(c)hul(l)(en),
sholen. Pret. s(c)holde, s(c)hulde; Plur. s(c)holden, s(c)hulden.

Conjugation of willen, will.

Ind. Pres. Sing. i. 3. wol(e), wulle, wil(l)(e) ; 2. wolt, wilt,
wil(l) ; with personal pronoun woltow, wiltu ; Plur. wol(le)n,
wol(e), wile(n). Pret. wolde ; Plur. wolde(n). Past Part.
wold.

Conjugation of wite(n), know.

Ind. Pres. Sing. i. 3. wo(o)t ; neg. not; 2. wo(o)st ; with per¬
sonal pronoun wostow ; Plur. witen. Pret. wiste ; Plur.
wisten. Past Part. wist.

Prepositions

Of is sometimes contracted to 0, as in modern Eng. o'clock, and on
to a, as in aboard = on board.

The Northern til is equivalent to to.

Th is assimilated to t in atte = at the.

THE LANGUAGE

XXV

DIALECTS

The dialects are Northern, Midland, and Southern, the first of
these including also the language of the Scottish Lowlands. The
most important dialect with reference to modern English is the East
Midland, in whose district lay the two universities, and eventually
London. Examples of the various dialects in this book are : North¬
ern : Barbour, The Bruce (pp. 238 ff.) ; Southern : Layamon, Brut
(pp. 219 ff.) ; Midland: The Bestiary (pp. 316 ff.).

Initial v iox f, and z for j, are marks of the Southern dialect.

One of the commoner marks of the Northern dialect is a for 0
in words like bald, bold ; gast, ghost ; wa, woe. Others are: initial
s for sh ; k for ch (kirk, church). The Northern dialect has also a
greater tendency to rid itself of inflectional endings and of final
unstressed -e, has the present participle in -and(e) (Midland and
Southern -inde, -ende, -inge), and to some extent has a peculiar
vocabulary.

For fuller information about the dialects, see Emerson, Middle
English Reader , 2d ed., New York, 1915, and Skeat, English
Dialects , Cambridge (Eng.), 1 9 1 1 .

III. SOME USEFUL BOOKS FOR THE STUDY
OF MIDDLE ENGLISH

Literary History

Baldwin, Introduction to English Medieval Literature. New York and
London, 1914.

Cambridge Histoiy of English Literature , Vols. 1 and 2. Cambridge
(Eng.) and New York, 1907, 1908.

Jusserand, Literary History of the English People (pom the Origins to
the Renaissance'). New York and London, 1895.

Ker, English Literature : Medieval. London and New York, 1912.

Morley, English Writers , Vols. 3-5. 2d ed. London and New York,
1889-1890.

Schofield, English Literature from the Norman Conquest to Chaucer.
New York, 1906.

Ten Brink, Early English Literature (to Wyclif). New York, 1889.

- , History of English Literature ( Wyclif Chaucer , Earliest Drama ,

Renaissance). New York, 1893.

- , History of English Literature (from the Fourteenth Century to

the Death of Surrey). New York, 1896.

See also Ten Brink, under Chaucer.

Dictionaries

Bradley-Stratmann, Old English [. Middle English ] Dictionary.
London, 1891.

Matzner, Altenglische Sprachproben : Worterbuch : A — Misbileven.
Berlin, 1878-1900.

Murray, New English Dictionary: A — Unforeseeable, V — Wash,
X — end. Oxford, 1888-1921.

Kindred Literatures

Edwardes, Summary of the Literatures of Modern Europe. London,
1907.

Gaspary-Oelsner, History of Early Italian Literature to the Death of
Dante. London, 1901.

xxviii INTRODUCTION

Grober, Grundriss der Rontanischen Philologie. Strassburg, 1888-1902.

Jeanroy, Les Origines de la Poesie Lyrique en France au Moyen Age.
2d ed. Paris, 1904.

Paris, Littlrature Franqaise au Moyen Age. 4th ed. Paris, 1909.

Petit de Julleville, Histoire de la Langue et de la Litterature
Franqaise , Vol. 2. Paris, 1896.

General

Adams, Afoul SI. Michel and Chartres. Boston, 1913.

Male, L'Art Religieux du XI IP Siecle en France. 2d ed. Paris, 1902.

- - , Religious Art in France , XIII Century. London and New York,

1913. (Translation of the preceding.)

- , II Art Religieux de la Fin du Moyen Age. Paris, 1908.

Oxford History of Music, Vol. I. Oxford, 1901.

Taylor, The Mediceval Mind. 2ded. 2vols. London and New York, 1914.

Bibliographies

Wells, Manual of the Writings in Middle English , 1050-1400. New
Haven, 1916. First Supplement. New Haven, 1919.

This virtually supersedes all the following. In addition to the bibli¬
ography, this work gives for each item its date, dialect, manuscripts,

sources, etc., with abstracts of all the longer pieces.

Billings, Guide to the Middle English Metrical Romances dealing with
English and Germanic Legends , and with the Cycles of Charlemagne
and Arthur. New York, 1901. ( Yale Studies in English , No. 9.)

Gross, Sources and Literature of English History , from the Earliest
Times to about 1485. London and New York, 1900.

Jahresbericht fur Germanische Philologie. Berlin, Leipzig, 1879 ff. (Each
annual volume contains a section on English.)

Korting, Grundriss der Geschichte der Englischen Literatur. 5th ed.
Munster i. W., 1910.

Paul, Grundriss der Germanischen Philologie, 21. 609-718 (index,
22. 345-484). Strassburg, 1893.

Ward, Catalogue of Romances. 3 vols. London, 1883-1910.

See also Edwardes, under Kindred Literatures; Hammond, under Chau¬
cer; and Stoddard, under Miracle Plays.

MIDDLE ENGLISH READER

ROMANCES

MALORY, MORTE DARTHUR

Sir Thomas Malory, knight, completed his romance, according to his own
statement, between March 4, 1469 and March 3, 1470 (the ninth year of
Edward IV). His home was at Newbold Revel, near Coventry, and five and
a half miles northwest of Rugby, where he succeeded his father in 1433 or
1434. He was member of Parliament for Warwickshire in 1445, and died
March 14, 1470 (according to Kittredge, Harvard Studies 5. 88 ff.). His book
is mostly derived from a variety of French sources, though he occasionally
adapts English poems. Whether the ultimate French originals had been di¬
gested into a single work which served as Malory’s source has not been
determined. The Morte Darthur was published by Caxton in 1485, and it is
from Sommer’s literal reprint that our text is derived.

For the characterization of this romance we may borrow a few sentences
from Andrew Lang ( Le Morte Darthur , ed. Sommer, pp. xiv-xxi) : ' There
is no more strange fortune in literature than that which blended wild Celtic
myths, and a monastic theory of the saintly life, with all of chivalrous adven¬
ture, with all of courtesy and gentleness that the Middle Ages could conceive,
and handed it on to be the delight of the changing ages. . . . Malory has
penned the great and chief romance of his own age and of ours, the story
that must endure and must move the lacrymce rerum till man’s nature is altered
again. . . . The Celtic legends, passed through the French mind, and rendered
in Malory’s English, have, what Homer lacks, the charm of mystery and dis¬
tance, the background of the unknown. . . . Malory’s book is a very complete
and composite picture of a strangely inherited ideal ; it is, indeed, "a jumble,”
but, of all jumbles, the most poetic and the most pathetic. . . . Malory is
skilled " to teach men unto strange adventures,” to instruct in all courage,
chastity, endurance, and true love, nor can we estimate what his influence
must have been in training the fathers of Elizabeth’s Englishmen. . . . The
style of Malory is, of course, based on the fresh and simple manner of his
French originals. For an English style of his age, it is particularly fluent. . . .
Perhaps it is just because he does follow a French copy, and so is familiar
with words derived from the Latin, that Malory possesses his fluency and
facility. . . . The manner and matter of Malory make him the most generally
known of all old authors, except, of course, the translators of the Bible.’

ROMANCES

LANCELOT AND ELAINE

Book 1 8, chaps. 18-20. Based upon the French prose romance of La?icelol
(first half of the thirteenth century), and the fourteenth-century Morte
Arthur contained in Harleian MS. 2252 of the British Museum (edited by
Bruce for the E. E. T. S.; see also Hemingway’s edition, Boston, 1912) ; but
chapter 20 is almost wholly due to Malory. For details concerning the rela¬
tion of our passage to the French Lancelot , see Sommer 3. 10, 222—8, 250;
for the text of the OF. original, see Mori Artu , ed. Bruce, pp. 74 ff. For the
general subject of Lancelot, see Jessie L. Weston’s The Legend of Lancelot
du Lac (London, 1901).

Tennyson’s Lady of Shalott and Lancelot and Elaine are founded on Malory.

And so upon a morne they took their horses, and Elayne le Blank
with them ; and whan they came to Astolat, there were they wel
lodged, and had grete chere of Syre Bernard the old baron, and of
Sir Tyrre his sone. And so upon the morne, whan Syr Launcelot
5 shold 1 departe, fayre Elayne broujt her fader with her, and Sir
Lavayne and Sir Tyrre, and thus she said : ' My lord Syr Launcelot,
now I see ye wylle departe, now, fayre knyghte and curtois knyghte,
have mercy upon me, and suffer me not to dye for thy love.’ ' What
wold ye that I dyd ? ’ said Syr Launcelot. ' I wold have you to my
10 husbond,’ sayd Elayne. ' Fair damoysel, I thanke yow.’ sayd Syr
Launcelot, ' but truly,’ sayd he, ' I cast 2 me never to be wedded
man.’ ' Thenne, fair knyght,’ said she, ' wylle ye be my peramour ? ’ 3
' Jesu defende me,’ said Syr Launcelot, 'for thenne I rewarded4
your fader and your broder ful evylle for their grete goodenes.’
15 'Allas,’ sayd she, 'thenne must I dye for your love.’ 'Ye shal not
so,’ said Syre Launcelot, ' for wete 5 ye wel, fayr mayden, I myght
have ben maryed and 6 I had wolde,7 but I never applyed me to be
maryed yet. But by cause,8 fair damoysel, that ye love me as ye
saye ye doo, I wille, for your good wylle and kyndenes, shewe yow
20 somme goodenes, and that is this : that w[h]eresomever ye wille
beset 9 youre herte upon somme goode knyghte that wylle wedde
yow, I shalle gyve yow togyders10 a thousand pound yerely, to yow

1 was to, was about to 5 wit, know 9 set, place

2 intend (NED. 44. b) 6 if 10 together

8 paramour, illicit lover 7 willed, wished

4 should reward (subj.) 8 because

MALORY, MORTE D ARTHUR

and to your heyres. Thus moche will I gyve yow, faire madame, for
your kyndenes, and alweyes whyle I lyve to be your owne knyghte.’
' Of alle this,’ saide the mayden, ' I wille none, for, but-yf 1 ye
wille wedde me, or ellys be my peramour at the leest, wete yow wel,
Sir Launcelot, my good dayes are done.’ ' Fair damoysel,’ sayd Sir
Launcelot, ' of these two thynges ye must pardonne me.’ Thenne
she shryked 2 shyrly,8 and felle doune in a swoune ; and thenne
wymmen bare her into her chamber, and there she made overmoche
sorowe. And thenne Sir Launcelot wold departe ; and there he asked
Sir Lavayn what he wold doo. ' What shold I doo,’ said Syre Lavayne,
' but folowe yow, but-yf ye dryve me from yow, or commaunde me
to goo from yow ? ’ . . .

Thenne Sir Launcelot took his leve, and soo they departed, and
came unto Wynchestre. And whan Arthur wyste 4 that Syr Launcelot
was come, hole 5 and sound, the kynge maade grete joye of hym, and
soo dyd Sir Gawayn, and all the knyjtes of the Round Table excepte
Sir Agravayn and Sire Mordred. Also Quene Guenever was woode 6
wrothe with Sir Launcelot, and wold by no meanes speke with hym,
but enstraunged7 herself from hym, and Sir Launcelot made alle the
meanes that he myght for to speke with the quene, but hit wolde
not be.

Now speke we of the fayre mayden of Astolat, that made suche
sorowe daye and nyght that she never slepte, ete, nor drank ; and
ever she made her complaynt unto Sir Launcelot. So when she had
thus endured a ten dayes, that she febled so 8 that she must nedes
passe out of thys world, thenne she shryved 9 her clene, and receyved
her Creatoure.10 And ever she complayned stylle upon Sire Launcelot.
Thenne her ghoostly 11 fader bad her leve suche thoughtes. Thenne
she sayd : ' Why shold I leve suche thoughtes ? Am I not an erthely
woman ? And alle the whyle the brethe is in my body I may com-
playne me, for my byleve is I doo none offence though I love an
erthely man, and I take God to my record I loved none but Sir
Launcelot du Lake, nor never shall ; and a clene mayden I am for

1 unless 6 This is direct from OE. hal

2 shrieked 6 mad(ly)

3 shrilly " estranged

4 knew 8 grew so weak

3°

9 confessed and received absolution
1° the sacrament
n spiritual

ROMANCES

hym and for alle other. And sythen 1 hit is the sufferaunce 2 * of God
that I shalle dye for the love of soo noble a knyghte, I byseche the
hyghe Fader of heven to have mercy upon my sowle, and [that] myn
innumerable paynes that I suffred may be allygeaunce 8 of parte of
5 my synnes. For swete Lord Jesu,’ sayd the fayre mayden, ' I take
the to record, on the 4 I was never grete offenser ageynst thy lawes,
but that I loved this noble knyght Sire Launcelot out of mesure, and
of myself, good Lord, I myght not withstande the fervent love wher-
for 6 1 have my dethe.’ And thenne she called her Rider Sire Bernard,
io and her broder Sir Tyrre, and hertely she praid her fader that her
broder myght wryte a letter lyke as she did endyte hit ; and so her
fader graunted her. And whan the letter was wryten word by word
lyke as she devysed, thenne she prayd her fader that she myght be
watched untyl she were dede. ' And whyle my body is hote,6 lete this
1 5 letter be putt in my ryght hand, and my hande bounde fast with the
letter untyl that I be cold, and lete me be putte in a fayre bedde, with
alle the rychest clothes that I have aboute me, and so lete my bedde
and alle my rychest clothes be laide with me in a charyot unto the
next place where Temse 7 is, and there lete me be putte within a
20 barget,8 and but one man with me, suche as ye trust to stere me
thyder, and that my barget be covered with blak samyte,9 over and
over. Thus, fader, I byseche yow, lete hit be done.’ Soo her fader
graunted hit her feythfully, alle thynge shold be done lyke as she had
devysed. Thenne her fader and her broder made grete dole,10 for,
25 when this was done, anone11 she dyed. And soo whan she was dede,
the corps, and the bedde, alle was ledde the next way unto Temse,
and there a man, and the corps, and alle, were put into Temse, and
soo the man styred 12 the barget unto Westmynster, and there he
rowed a grete whyle to and fro or18 ony aspyed hit.

30 Soo by fortune Kynge Arthur and the Quene Guenever were spek-
ynge togyders at a wyndowe; and soo as they loked into Temse, they
aspyed this blak barget, and hadde merveylle what it mente. Thenne

1 since (<sithens,

sithence)

2 permission

8 alleviation

4 toward thee

6 because of which

6 hot, warm

7 Thames

8 barge

9 samite, rich silk

10 lamentation

11 immediately (in one,

i.e. minute)

12 steered

13 ere, before

MALORY, MORTE DARTHUR

the kynge called Sire Kay, and shewed hit hym. ' Sir,’ said Sir Kay,

' wete you wel there is some newe tydynges.’ ' Goo thyder,’ sayd the
kynge to Sir Kay, ' and take with yow Sire Brandyles and Agravayne,
and brynge me redy word what is there.’ Thenne these four knyghtes
departed, and came to the barget, and wente in ; and there they fond 5
the fayrest corps lyenge in a ryche bedde, and a poure man sittyng
in the bargets ende, and no word wold he speke. Soo these foure
knyghtes retorned unto the kyng ageyne, and told hym what they
fond. ' That fayr corps wylle I see,’ sayd the kynge. And soo thenne
the kyng took the quene by the hand, and went thydder. Thenne the 10
kynge made the barget to be holden fast ; and thenne the kyng and
pe quene entred, with certayn knyjtes wyth them. And there he sawe
the fayrest woman lye in a ryche bedde, coverd unto her myddel with
many ryche clothes, and alle was of clothe of gold, and she lay as
though she had smyled. Thenne the quene aspyed a letter in her 15
ryght hand, and told it to the kynge. Thenne the kynge took it, and
sayd : ' Now am I sure this letter wille telle what she was, and why
she is come hydder.’ Soo thenne the kynge and the quene wente
oute of the barget, and soo commaunded a certayne 1 wayte upon the
barget. And soo whan the kynge was come within his chamber, he 20
called many knyghtes aboute hym, and saide that he wold wete openly
what was wryten within that letter. Thenne the kynge brake it, and
made a clerke 2 to rede hit ; and this was the entente 3 of the letter :

' Moost noble knyghte, Sir Launcelot, now hath dethe made us two
at debate for your love; I was your lover, that men called the fayre 25
mayden of Astolat ; therfor unto alle ladyes I make my mone ; yet
praye for my soule, and bery me atte leest, and offre ye my masse-
peny.4 This is my last request. And a clene mayden I dyed, I take
God to wytnes. Pray for my soule, Sir Launcelot, as thou art pierles.6’
This was alle the substance in the letter. And whan it was redde, the 30
kyng, the quene, and alle the knyghtes wepte for pyte of the doleful
complayntes. Thenne was Sire Launcelot sente for. And whan he
was come, Kynge Arthur made the letter to be redde to hym ; and
whanne Sire Launcelot herd hit word by word, he sayd : ' My lord

1 certain person (or persons) 3 meaning, substance 6 peerless

2 learned man, scholar (Lat. clericus) 4 funeral dues

ROMANCES

Arthur, wete ye wel I am ryghte hevy 1 of the dethe of this fair
damoysel. God knoweth I was never causer of her dethe by my
wyllynge, and that wille I reporte me 2 to her own broder ; here he
is, Sir Lavayne. I wille not saye nay,’ sayd Syre Launcelot, but that
5 she was bothe fayre and good, and moche I was beholden unto her ;
but she loved me out of mesure.’ ' Ye myght have shewed her,’ sayd
the quene, ' somme bounte and gentilnes, that myghte have preserved
her lyf.’ ' Madame,’ sayd Sir Launcelot, ' she wold none other wayes
be ansuerd, but that she wold be my wyf, outher 3 els my peramour,
io and of these two I wold not graunte her ; but I proferd her, for her
good love that she shewed me, a thousand pound yerly to her and to
her heyres, and to4 wedde ony manere knyghte5 that she coude fynde
best to love in her herte. For, madame,’ said Sir Launcelot, ' I love
not to be constrayned to love ; for love muste aryse of the herte, and
iS not by no constraynte.’ 'That is trouth,’ sayd the kynge, and many
knyghtes ; ' love is free in hymselfe, and never wille be bounden, for
where he is bounden he looseth hymself.’ Thenne sayd the kynge
unto Sire Launcelot : ' Hit wyl be your worshyp 6 that ye oversee 7
that she be entered 8 worshypfully.’ ' Sire,’ sayd Sire Launcelot, ' that
20 ihalle be done as I can best devyse.’ And soo many knyghtes yede9
thyder to behold that fayr mayden. And soo upon the mome she
was entered rychely, and Sir Launcelot offryd her masse-peny, and
all the knyjtes of the Table Round that were there at that tyme offryd
with Syr Launcelot. And thenne the povre man wente ageyne with
25 the barget. Thenne the quene sente for Syr Launcelot, and prayd
hym of mercy,10 for why 11 that she had ben wrothe with hym causeles.
' This is not the fyrste tyme,’ said Sir Launcelot, ' that ye have ben
displeasyd with me causeles ; but, madame, ever I must suffre yow,
but what sorowe I endure I take no force.’ 12

1 sorrowful 6 to your credit 1° besought his pardon

2 refer (by way of appeal) " provide 11 because

8 or 8 interred 12 I do not mind

4 that she might 2 went

5 of knight (for an explanation see NED. s.v. kin, 6.b)

MALORY, MORTE DARTHUR

TRISTRAM AND ISOLDE: THE LOVE-DRINK

Book 8, chaps. 23, 24. Based upon the O.F. thirteenth-century romance
of Tristan , ' which has been printed oftener than any other romance ’ ; see
Sommer 3. 9, 286.

Thenne Kynge Anguysshe and Syre Tristram toke theire leve, ande
sailed into Irland with grete noblesse 1 and joye. Soo whanne they
were in Irland, the kynge lete 2 make it knowen 3 thoroute alle the
land, how and in what manere Syre Trystram had done for hym.
Thenne the quene and alle that there were made the moost of hym
that they myghte. But the joye that La Beale Isoud made of Syr
Tristram there myghte no tonge telle, for of alle men erthely she
loved hym moost.

Thenne, upon a daye, Kynge Anguysshe asked Syr Tristram why
he asked not his bone,4 for whatsomever he had promysed hym he
shold have hit withoute fayle. ' Syre,’ sayd Sire Trystram, ' now is hit
tyme ; this is alle that I wylle desyre, that ye wylle gyve me La Beale
Isoud youre doughter, not for myself, but for myn unkel Kynge
Marke, that shalle have her to wyf, for soo have I promysed hym.’
'Allas,’ said the kynge, ' I had lever5 than alle the land that I have
ye wold wedde her youreself.’ ' Syre, and I dyd, than I were shamed
for ever in this world, and fals of my promyse. Therefore,’ said Sire
Trystram, ' I praye you hold your promyse that ye promysed me, for
this is my desyre, that ye wylle gyve me La Beale Isoud to goo with
me into Cornewaile, for to be wedded to Kynge Marke, myn unkel.’
' As for that,’ sayd Kynge Anguysshe, ' ye shalle have her with you,
to doo with her what it please you, that is for to saye yf that ye lyst 6
to wedde her yourself, that is me levest 7 ; and yf ye wille gyve her
unto Kynge Marke, youre unkel, that is in youre choyse.’

Soo to make short conclusion, La Beale Isoud was made redy to
'goo with Syre Trystram, and Dame Bragwayne wente with her for
her chyef gentylwoman, with many other. Thenne the quene, Isouds
moder, gaf to her and Dame Bragwayne, her doughters gentilwoman,

1 pomp 4 boon 6 wish

2 let 6 rather 1 most pleasing

8 caused it to be made known

ROMANCES

and unto Governaile, a drynke, and charged them that what day Kynge
Marke shold wedde, that same daye they shold gyve hym that drynke,
soo that Kynge Marke shold drynke to La Beale Isoud ; ' and thenne,’
said the quene, ' I undertake eyther shalle love other the dayes of
5 their lyf.’ Soo this drynke was yeven unto Dame Bragwayne and
unto Governaile. And thenne anone Syre Trystram tooke the see
and La Beale Isoud ; and whan they were in theire caban, hit happed
soo that they were thursty, and they sawe a lytyl flacke[t] 1 of gold
stande by them, and hit semed by the coloure and the taste that it
io was noble wyn. Thenne Sire Trystram toke the flacke[t] in his hand,
and sayd : ' Madame Isoud, here is the best drynke that ever ye drank,
that Dame Bragwayne youre mayden, and Govemayle my servaunt,
have kepte for themself.’ Thenne they lough and made good chere,
and eyther dranke to other frely, and they thoughte never drynke
i S that ever they dranke to other was soo swete nor soo good. But by
that 2 theyr drynke was in their bodyes, they loved eyther other so
wel that never theyr love departed, for wele neyther 3 for wo. And
thus it happed the love fyrste betwixe Sire Tristram and La Beale
Isoud, the whiche love never departed the dayes of their lyf.

THE QUEST OF THE HOLY GRAIL: THE VOW

Book 13, chaps. 6-7. This comes from La Queste del Saint Graal (edited by
Furnivall for the Roxburghe Club, London, 1864) ; see Sommer 3. 206, 209, 210.

With the second and third paragraphs of this extract may be compared
Tennyson, Holy Grail 182 ff ., 314 ff.

20 ' Now,’ sayd the kyng, ' I am sure at this quest of the Sancgreal

shalle alle ye of the Table Rounde departe, and never shalle I see yow
ageyne hole togyders ; therfor I wille see yow alle hole togyders in
the medowe of Camelot, to juste and to torneye, that after your dethe
men maye speke of hit, that suche good knyghtes were holy 4 togyders
25 suche a day.’ As unto that counceyll, and at the kynges request, they
accorded alle, and toke on their harneis 0 that longed 6 unto justynge.

1 flask 3 nor 5 armor

2 by the time 4 wholly 6 belonged

MALORY, MORTE DARTHUR

But alle this mevynge 1 of the kyng was for this entent, for to see
Galahalt preved,2 for the kynge demed8 he shold not lyghtly4 come
ageyne unto the courte after his departynge. So were they assembled
in the medowe, bothe more and lasse.5 Thenne Syr Galahalt, by the
prayer of the kynge and the quene, dyd upon hym a noble jesseraunce, 5
and also he dyd on 6 hys helrne, but shelde wold he take none for no
prayer of the kyng. And thenne Sir Gawayne and other knyghtes
praid hym to take a spere. Ryghte soo he dyd ; and the quene was
in a toure with alle her ladyes for to behold that turnement. Thenne
Sir Galahalt dressid hym7 in myddes 8 of the medowe, and began to 10
breke speres merveyllously, that all men had wonder of hym, for he
there surmounted 9 alle other knygtes, for within a whyle he had de-
fouled 10 many good knyghtes of the Table Round sauf 11 tweyne,
that was Syr Launcelot and Sire Percyvale.

Thenne the kyng, at the quenes request, made hym to alyghte and 1 5
to unlace his helme, that the quene mygt see hym in the vysage.
Whanne she beheld hym, she sayd : ' Sothely,12 I dar wel say that
Sir Launcelot begat hym, for never two men resembled more in
lykenes, therfor it nys no merveyle though he be of grete prowesse.’

So a lady that stode by the quene said : ' Madame, for Goddes sake, 20
oughte he of ryghte to be so good a knyghte ? ’ 'Ye,18 forsothe,’
said the quene, ' for he is of alle partyes 14 come of the best knyghtes
of the world, and of the hyhest lygnage 15 ; for Sir Launcelot is come
but of the eighth degre from oure Lord Jesu Cryst, and Syre Galahalt
is of the nynthe degree from oure Lord Jesu Cryst; therfor I dar saye 25
they be the grettest gentilmen of the world.’ And thenne the kynge

1 suggestion (moving) 6 put on ; cf. undo 11 save, except

2 proved, tried 7 made ready 12 in truth

8 supposed 8 the midst 13 yea

4 readily 9 surpassed 14 in all respects

5 less 10 trodden down, overthrown 15 lineage

5. jesseraunce : more correctly, jazerant, a word of Saracenic origin (found
in the name Algiers ), occurring in Of7. in the Chanson de Roland ; it signifies
(ArED.) : 'A light coat of armor, composed of splints or small plates of metal
riveted to each other, or to a lining of some stout material.’ Scott ( Quentin
Durward ) calls it a ' flexible shirt of linked mail.’

24. Cryst: 'the first true gentleman that ever breathed’ (Dekker). The
sentence, from 'for Sir Launcelot’ to 'world,’ is original with Malory.

ROMANCES

and al estates 1 wente home unto Camelot, and soo wente to evensonge
to the grete mynster. And soo after upon that to souper, and every
knyjt sette in his owne place as they were toforehand. Thenne anone
they herd crakynge and cryenge of thonder, that hem thought the
5 place shold alle todryve.2 In the myddes of this blast entred a sonne-
beaume more clerer by seven tymes than ever they sawe daye, and al
they were alyghted of the grace of the Holy Ghoost. Thenne beganne
every knyghte to behold other, and eyther sawe other by theire semynge
fayrer than ever they sawe afore. Not for thenne3 there was no knyght
io myghte speke one word a grete whyle, and soo they loked every man
[o]n other, as they had ben dome.4 Thenne ther entred into the halle
the Holy Graile, coverd with whyte samyte, but ther was none myghte
see hit, nor who bare hit. And there was al the halle fulfylled 5 with
good odoures, and every kny^t had suche metes and drynkes as he
15 best loved in this world. And whan the Holy Grayle had be6 borne
thurgh the halle, thenne the holy vessel departed sodenly, that they
wyste not where hit becam.7 Thenne had they alle brethe to speke.
And thenne the kynge yelded 8 thankynges to God of his good grace
that he had sente them. ' Certes,’ said the kynge, ' we oughte to
20 thanke oure Lord Jesu gretely, for that he hath shewed us this daye,
atte reverence of this hyhe feest of Pentecost.’ ' Now,’ said Sir Gawayn,
' we have ben served this daye of what metes and drynkes we thoughte
on, but one thynge begyled us — we myght not see the Holy Grayle,
it was soo precyously coverd ; wherfor I wil make here avowe 9 that
25 to-morne,10 withoute lenger11 abydyng,12 I shall laboure in the quest
of the Sancgreal, that I shalle hold me oute a twelvemoneth and a
day, or more yf nede be, and never shalle I retorne ageyne unto the
courte tyl I have sene hit more openly than hit hath ben sene here ;
and yf I may not spede,18 I shall retorne ageyne, as he that maye not
30 be ageynst the wil of our Lord Jesu Cryste.’ Whan they of the
Table Round herde Syr Gawayne saye so, they arose up the most
party,14 and maade suche avowes as Sire Gawayne had made.

1 ranks, degrees

2 burst asunder

3 nevertheless

4 dumb

5 filled

6 been

7 went

8 gave

9 vow

10 to-morrow

longer

delay

succeed

most part, greater number

KING HORN

Anone as Kynge Arthur herd this, he was gretely dyspleasyd, for
he wyste wel they myghte not ageynesaye 1 theyre avowes. 'Allas!’
said Kynge Arthur unto Sir Gawayn, ' ye have nyghe slayne me with
the avowe and promesse that ye have made. For thurgh yow ye have
berafte 2 me the fayrest felauship and the truest of knyghthode that 5
ever were sene togyders in ony realme of the world. For whanne
they departe from hens, I am sure they alle shalle never mete more
in thys world, for they shalle dye many in the quest. And soo it
forthynketh 3 me a lytel, for I have loved them as wel as my lyf.’

KING HORN

The romance probably antedates 1250; the Cambridge manuscript (1530
lines), here followed, may be dated about 1310. The best edition is by Joseph
Hall (Oxford, 1901).

The story is of a prince, who, set adrift by conquering Saracens, lands in
Westernesse, is loved by the king’s daughter of that country, is banished when
his love is discovered, returns in time to save her from another marriage, wins
her for himself, and finally becomes king of his native land.

According to Hall (pp. liii-lvi) : * Kitig Horn is essentially English, a plain
impersonal tale, picturing a simple state of society, and full of primitive
touches centuries older than its language, written in a metre which is a natural
development of Old English prosody. . . . [The] poem, as we have it, is a story
of the Danish raids on the south coast of England. It is, in the main, Teutonic
in spirit and details : the names of the persons and places are mostly Teutonic,
or assimilated to Teutonic forms. . . . Rimenhild and Aylmar, and his court
on the banks of the Dorsetshire Stour, are English additions to the original
story, and the real Westernesse is Ireland. Then all the localities and surround¬
ings are Celtic. Murry ... is king of Suddene, the country of the Southern
Damnonii, that is, of Cornwall. . . . The banished Horn finds shelter at the
court of an Irish king; with Irish troops, and accompanied by an Irish page,
he recovers his father’s kingdom. His rival is a Breton prince, Modi, king of
Renns. These indications point to the conclusion that the story is originally
a British tradition, arising out of some temporary success in which the Cornish,
aided by the Irish, checked jhe westward progress of the English invader. It
was annexed by some English poet, and recast to suit the similar position of
his countrymen resisting the attacks of the Danes. Finally, it emerged at a
much later date in the shape of the extant versions, under the impulse of the
rising spirit of the English people recovering from the Norman Conquest,
which found its peculiar literary expression in a whole cycle of outlaw and
exile stories in verse and prose.

1 retract, break 2 bereft, deprived (with two accusatives) 8 grieves

ROMANCES

' The literary interest of King Horn may be characterized in few words. It
is probably the earliest of the English romances, but as a specimen of the
purely narrative sort it has great merit. In swift succession of brief and
incisive speeches it tells a simple story effectively, without distraction of elab¬
orate description or reflective comment. But the characters are very simply
conceived, the female element is slight, and lovemaking is quite subordinate
to fighting. Although picturesque and even poetic situations, such as Horn’s
farewell to his boat, are not wanting, the language is bald and unimaginative.
A certain epic simplicity and energetic directness of expression, to which the
short verse lends itself, are the main merits of its style.’

Our extract runs from line 445 to line 586. The earlier course of the story
is as follows : Saracens kill King Murry of Suddene, and set adrift the young
prince, Horn, and his companions. The latter are carried over the water to
Westernesse, where King Aylmar receives them kindly, and bids the steward
Athelbrus teach Horn the arts of harping and song, and train him to serve the
wine and carve at table. Horn is soon loved by all the court, but especially by
the king’s daughter, Rymenhild. She bids the steward bring him to her cham¬
ber, but Athelbrus, in dread of the king’s anger, brings instead Horn’s com¬
panion, Athulf. To Athulf she gives her love, supposing him to be Horn, but
Athulf finally explains the mistake, and she upbraids the steward. Athelbrus
again promises to bring Horn, and this time really does so. Rymenhild de¬
clares her love to Horn, and offers to marry him. He gently declines, on the
ground that he is unworthy by birth for the honor, whereupon she swoons.
Horn is moved by her grief, and suggests that marriage might be possible if
he were a knight.

Rymenhild, fat swete }>ing,
Wakede of hire swooning.1
' Horn,’ quaf 2 heo,8 ' wel4 sone5
]7at schal beon 6 idone 7 :

J>u schalt beo 8 dubbed knigt
Are 9 come seve 10 nigt.

Have her 11 fis cuppe,

And pis ryng feruppe 12
To Aylbrus )>e 18 stuard,

And se 14 he holde foreward.15

1 swoon

2 quoth, said
8 she

4 very : MS. vel

5 soon

8 be

7 done (OE .gedon)

8 be

9 before
1° seven

12 thereupon, in addition
is MS. &

14 see (that)

15 keep his promise

11 here

7. Have : the Harleian and Laud MSS. have here a word for 'take.

KING HORN

Seie 1 I he him biseche
Wif> loveliche 2 speche
J?at he adun 3 falle
Bifore fie king in halle,

And bidde fie king arijte 4
Dubbe fie to knijte.

Wifi selver and wifi golde
Hit wurfi 5 him wel ijolde.6
Crist him lene 7 spede 8
pin erende9 to bede.’10

Horn tok his leve,

For hit was neg 11 eve.
Afielbrus he sojte,

And gaf 12 him fiat 18 he brojte,
And tolde him ful gare 14
Hu 15 he hadde ifare,16
And sede 17 him his nede,

And bihet 18 him his mede.19

Afielbrus also swijie 20
Wente to halle blive.21
' Kyng,’ he sede, ' f>u leste 22
A tale mid fie beste ;
pu schalt bere crune 28
To-morege24 in fiis tune26;
To-morege is Jii feste 26 ;
per 27 bihovefi 28 geste.29
Hit nere 30 nojt forloren 81
For to knigti 82 Child 88 Horn,

1 say

2 loving, affectionate

3 down

4 as is right

5 shall be

6 requited

7 grant

8 success

9 mission

72 gave

13 that which, what

14 readily, quickly

15 how

23 crown

24 OE. to morgen

25 town

26 feast

16 fared (OE .gefareii) 27 for this

17 said, told

18 promised

19 reward

29 as fast as possible

28 is fitting

29 entertainment, conspicuous act

30 would not be

31 lost, thrown away, without value

32 knight

33 aspirant to knighthood

10 make known (OE. beodan) 21 in haste

11 nearly

22 listen

ROMANCES

pine armes for to welde 1 ;

God2 3 knigt he schal gelde.’8

pe king sede sone :

' pat is wel idone —

Horn me wel iquemef 4 ;

God knigt him bisemef.5
He schal have mi dubbing,

And afterward [be] mi derling ;
And alle his feren 6 * twelf
He schal knigten himself :

Alle he schal hem 1 knigte
Bifore me jns nigte.’

Til ]?e ligt of day sprang
Ailmar him f ugte 8 lang.
pe day bigan to springe ;

Horn com 9 bivore fe kinge
Mid his twelf yfere 10 — -
Sume hi 11 were lufere.12
Horn he dubbede to knigte,

Wif swerd and spures brigte.

He sette him on a stede 13 whit ;
per nas no knigt hym ilik.14
He smot him a litel wigt,15
And bed 16 him beon a god kn^t.

Afulf fel a 17 knes far 18
Bivore fe king Aylmar.

' King,’ he sede, ' so kene,19
Grante me a bene 20 :

Nu 21 is knigt Sire Horn

pat in Suddenne 22 was iboren 28 ;

1 wield

2 good, valorous

3 turn out, become

4 pleases

6 he seems

6 companions (OE .geferan)

" them

8 it seemed to Ailmar

9 came

10 See 1. 9

11 some of them (some they)

12 wicked

13 steed

14 like (OE. gelic )

18 a little bit, gently
18 bade

17 on
78 there

19 brave

20 boon, request
27 now

22 See Intr., p. 1 1

23 born (OE. geboreii)

1 stand

2 shield
8 our

4 certainly, indeed

5 alighted, descended

horseback

6 made

KING HORN

Lord he is of londe
Over us ]>at bi him stonde 1 ;
pin armes he ha)> and scheld,2
To figte wi]> upon ]>e feld ;

Let him us alle knigte,

For fat is ure 8 rigte.’

Aylmar sede sone ywis 4 :

' Do nu }>at )>i wille is.’

Horn adun ligte,5

And makede 6 hem alle knigtes.

Murie 7 was j>e feste,

A1 of faire gestes ;

Ac Rymenhild nas nogt ]>er,

And ]>at hire ]>ugte 8 seve 9 ger.10
After Horn heo 11 sente,

And he to bure 12 wente.

Nolde he nogt go one 13 —

A]>ulf was his mone.14

Rymenhild on flore stod
(Homes come 15 hire Jrngte god),
And sede : ' Welcome, Sire Horn,
And Ajmlf knigt f>e biforn.

Knigt, nu is )>i time
For to sitte bi me ;

Do nu (tat j>u er 16 of spake :

To ]ri wif )m me take ;

Ef 17 ]m art trewe of dedes,

Do nu ase )m sedes 18 ;

Nu Jm hast wille pne,

Unbind 19 me of my pine.’20

7 merry, joyous

8 seemed to her

9 seven
1° years

from 11 she

12 bower, lady’s chamber

13 alone

11 companion (OE. gemdna)
15 coming
18 before

17 if

18 saidest

19 set free

20 torment

1 6

ROMANCES

' Rymenhild,’ qua]? he, ' beo stille
Ihc wulle 1 don al ]>i wille.

Also 2 hit mot 8 bitide,4
Mid spere I schal 6 furst ride,

And mi knijthod prove,

Ar 6 Ihc |?e ginne 7 to woge.8
We be)? 9 knijtes £onge,

Of o 10 dai al isprunge,11
And of ure mestere 12
So 18 is ]>e manere 14 :

Wif? sume o]?ere knijte
Wei for his lemman 15 figte,

Or 16 he eni 17 wif take ;

For]?i 18 me stonde]? 19 ]?e more rape.20
To-day, so Crist me blesse,

Ihc wulle do pruesse 21
For }?i luve in )>e felde,

Mid spere and mid schelde ;

If Ihc come to lyve,22
Ihc schal ]>e take to wyve.’ 23

' Knijt,’ qua]? heo, ' trewe,

Ihc wene 24 Ihc mai )>e leve 25 ;

Tak nu her ]>is gold ring,

God him is ]?e dubbing 26 ;

per is upon f>e ringe

Igrave 27 " Rymenhild )>e jonge.28 ”

]?er nis non betere anonder29 sunne,

pat eni man of telle cunne 30 ;

1 will

2 even so

8 must
4 befall

6 am bound to

6 before

7 begin
* woo

9 are

10 one, the same

11 having taken origin (OE. gesfirungeii)

12 profession

18 thus

14 custom
16 lady-love

16 before

17 any

78 wherefore

19 there exists for me

20 haste

21 deeds of valor

22 return alive
28 wife

24 think

25 believe, trust

26 ornamentation

27 engraved

28 Read jinge (?)

29 under

30 may be able

HAVELOK THE DANE

1 7

For my luve pu hit were,

And on ]ri finger pu hit 1 here.

}?e stones beo)> 2 of suche grace 8
]1at )>u ne schalt in none place
Of none duntes 4 beon ofdrad,6
Ne 6 on bataille beon amad,7
Ef pu loke peran,8
And penke upon pi lemman.

And Sire Apulf, pi broper,

He schal have anoper.

Horn, Ihc pe biseche
Wip loveliche speche,

Crist jeve9 god endinge,10
)?e ajen11 to bringe.’

]?e knigt hire gan 12 kesse,
And heo him to blesse.

Leve at 13 hire he nam,14
And into halle cam.

HAVELOK THE DANE

Composed before 1300; the unique manuscript (3001 lines) is in the Bod¬
leian Library at Oxford, and may be dated about 1310. The English poem is
probably a translation of a lost French one. The best recent editions are
those by Holthausen (London, 1901) and Skeat (Oxford, 1915).

The story is of an exiled prince of Denmark, who becomes a servant at the
English court, marries the princess of that country, and finally succeeds to the
thrones of both Denmark and England.

' The historical source of the name and fame, and perhaps of the story of
Lfavelok, has been traced to the life of Olaf Sitricson [see Diet. Nat. Biog.\,
a Danish prince, who, about the middle of the tenth century, reigned for a few
years in Northumbria. . . . One of the strongest motives underlying the devel¬
opment of the Havelok legend may well ha.ve been political or national,
namely, the desire of the Danes to prove their right to sovereignty in England ’
(Billings, pp. 18, 20).

1 MS. him

2 are

3 power, virtue

4 blows

5 afraid

6 nor

1 crazed, bewildered (OE. gemadd)

8 upon it

9 grant

10 MS. erndinge

n back again

12 began

13 of

14 took

1 8

ROMANCES

The ancient town-seal of Great Grimsby, in Lincolnshire, embodies a mani¬
fest allusion to our story. The seal is described at length by J. Hopkin. as
quoted in Skeat’s edition ( pp. liv— lvi), from which the following extract is
taken : ' On the right hand of Gryme stands his protect Haveloc (" Habloc ”),
whom, during one of his mercantile excursions soon after his arrival in Lincoln¬
shire, Gryme had the good fortune to save from imminent danger of ship¬
wreck, and who proved to be the son of Gunter, King of Denmark, and who
was therefore conveyed to the British court, where he subsequently received
in marriage Goldburgh, the daughter of the British sovereign. Above Gryme
is represented a hand, being emblematical of the hand of Providence by which
Haveloc was preserved, and near the hand is the star which marks the point
where the inscription begins and ends. Haveloc made such a favorable repre¬
sentation of his preserver at the British and Danish courts that he procured
for him many honors and privileges. From the British monarch Gryme, who
had already realized an abundance of wealth, received a charter, and was made
the chief governor of Grimsby; and the Danish sovereign granted to the town
an immunity (which is still possessed by the burgesses of Grimsby) from all
tolls at the port of Elsineur. Gryme afterwards lived in Grimsby like a petty
prince in his hereditary dominions. Above Haveloc is represented a crown,
and in his right hand is a battle-axe, the favorite weapon of the Northmen,
and in his [left] hand is a ring which he is presenting to the British princess
Goldburgh (" Goldebvrgh ”), who stands on the left side of Gryme, and whose
right hand is held towards the ring. Over her head is a regal diadem, and in
her left hand is a sceptre. Sir F. Madden states that it is certain that this seal
is at least as old as the time of Edward I (and therefore contemporaneous with
the MS.), as the legend is written in a character which after the year 1300 fell
into disuse, and was succeeded by the black letter, or Gothic.’

The mention of Elsinore (Elsineur) suggests the name of Hamlet; for the
connection between his story and that of Havelok, see the introduction to
Israel Gollancz’s Hamlet in Iceland (London, 1898).

Our extract embraces lines 862-1281.

The earlier part of the story runs as follows : A good king of England,
Athelwold, under whom the realm had been serenely peaceful and happy, lay
at the point of death, with only an infant daughter, Goldborough, to succeed
him. He called to him his lords and thanes, and bade them tell him to whom
he might most safely entrust the kingdom until such time as his daughter could
bear rule. They all declared that Earl Godrich was the man ; and to him the
child and the regency of the country were accordingly committed. But love
of power made this man false ; when Goldborough was twenty years old, he
imprisoned her in a strong castle, and himself continued to rule.

Meanwhile, a similar story had been enacted in Denmark. Its king, Birka-
beyn, had before his death entrusted his young son and two small daughters
to a supposedly faithful vassal, Godard. The latter with his own hands killed
two of the children, and ordered a fisherman, Grim, to drown the boy Havelok
by the light of the moon. Grim carried Havelok home in a sack ; but when he

HAVELOK THE DANE

rose at midnight to drown the child, a bright and shining light streamed forth
from the sack, and both Grim and his wife recognized this as a sign of royal
blood in the boy. They fell on their knees before him, and promised faithful
allegiance.

Soon after, Grim decided to flee from the country, and embarked in a boat
with his wife, five children, and Havelok. Winds drove him to the coast of
England, where he landed at the mouth of the Humber, and dwelt in a spot
called, after him, Grimsby. Twelve years later, Havelok, now a well-grown
youth, left the family of Grim to seek his fortune ; and at this point our selec¬
tion begins.

In the manuscript, th is frequently found for ht and for /; in such cases the
change has been made without notice.

To Lincolne barfot he yede.1
Hwan 2 he kam J»e[r], he was ful wil,3
Ne havede 4 he no frend to gangen 5 til 6 ;
Two dayes }>er fastinde 7 he yede,
pat non 8 for his werk wolde 9 him fede ;
pe jmdde 10 day he herde calle :

' Bermen,11 bermen, hider 12 forth alle 1 ’

[Povre 18 pat on fote yede] 14

Sprongen 15 forth so 16 sparke of 17 glede.18

Havelok shof 19 dun 20 [wel] 21 nyne or ten

Riht 22 amideward 23 pe fen,24

And stirte 28 forth to \e, kok,26

[]?er 27 the erles mete he tok] 14

pat he bouhte 28 at }>e brigge ;

pe bermen let he alle ligge,29

And bar 30 pe mete to }>e castel,

And gat 31 him )>ere a ferpng 32 wastel.83

Iwent (OE. eode )

2 when

3 uncertain what to do

4 had
s go
6 to

1 fasting

8 no one

9 was willing
1° third

n porters
12 hither

18 poor people

14 Supplied by Skeat

15 sprang

16 as

17 from ; MS. on

18 burning coal

19 shoved, pushed

20 down

21 full

22 right

28 in the midst of
24 mud

25 started, leaped
28 cook

27 where

28 bought

29 lie

80 bore

81 got

82 farthing
88 caije

ROMANCES

pet of er 1 day he kepte 2 ok 8
Swife yerne 4 fe erles kok,

Til fat he saw 8 him on fe b[r]igge,

And bi him mani fishes ligge.6
pe erles 7 mete havede he bouht
Of Comwaile,8 and kalde 9 oft :

' Bermen, bermen, hider swife 10 1 ’
Havelok it herde, and was ful blife
pat he herde ' bermen ’ calle ;

Alle made he hem 11 dun falle

pat in his gate 12 yeden 18 and stode,14

Wei sixtene laddes gode.

Als15 he lep16 fe kok [un-]til,17
He shof hem alle upon an hyl 18 ;

Astirte 19 til him with his rippe,20

And bigan fe fish to kippe.21

He bar up wel a cartelode

Of segges,22 laxes,23 of playces 24 brode,25

Of grete laumprees,26 and of eles 27 ;

Sparede he neyfer tos ne heles

Til fat he to fe castel cam,

pat men fro him his birfene 28 nam.29

pan men haveden 30 holpen 81 him doun

With fe birfene of his croun,32

pe kok [bi] stod, and on him low,33

And fou[h]te him stalworfe man ynow,34

And seyde : ' Wiltu 86 ben wit[h] me ?

1 second

2 kept watch for; MS. kepte he
8 also

4 very eagerly

5 MS. say

6 lying (to lie)

7 MS. herles

8 MS. cornwalie

9 called

10 quickly

11 them

12 way

i8 went

14 stood

15 as

16 leaped

17 unto

18 heap

19 leaped

20 fish-basket

21 take up quickly

22 cuttlefish
28 salmon
24 plaice

25 broad
28 lampreys

27 eels

28 burden

29 took
89 had

®1 helped
82 crown, head
33 laughed
84 enough
86 wilt thou

HAVELOK THE DANE

Gladlike 1 wile Ich feden pe ;

Wei is set 2 J>e mete )>u etes,8
And j>e hire ]>at pu getes.’

' Goddot 4 ! ’ quoth he, ' leve 5 sire,

Bidde 6 Ich you non o]»er hire ; 5

But yeve]> 7 me inow to ete,

Fir 8 and water Y wile you fete,9
)?e fir blowe, an[d] ful wele maken ;

Stickes kan Ich breken and kraken,10

And kindlen [ek] 11 ful wel a fyr, io

And maken it to brennen 12 shir 18 ;

Ful wel kan Ich eleven 14 shides,15
Eles toturven 16 of here 17 hides ;

Ful wel kan Ich dishes swilen,18

And don al pat ye evere wilen.19 ’ 15

Quoth }>e kok : ' Wile I no more ;

Go ]>u 20 yunder, and sit ]?ore,21
And Y shal yeve )>e ful fair bred,

And make ]?e broys 22 in pe led.28

Sit now doun and et 24 ful yerne ; 20

Dapeit hwo 25 f>e mete werne 26 ! ’

Havelok sette him dun anon 27
Also 28 stille als 28 a ston,

Til he havede ful wel eten ;

po 29 havede Havelok fayre geten.80 25

Hwan he havede eten inow,

He kam to )>e welle, water updrow,

And filde pe[r] a michel 81 so 82 ;

2 bestowed
8 eatest

4 God wot ! MS. soddot

5 dear

6 ask, pray

1 gladly

12 bum

18 brightly
44 cleave

46 thin pieces of wood
16 strip {NED. s.v. time)

28 caldron, kettle

24 eat

25 a curse upon him who
28 denies

27 straightway

1 give

8 fire

9 fetch

10 crack

11 also

17 their

18 wash
49 wish
20 thou
24 there

28 as

29 then

80 done well

81 large

82 tub

22 brewis, broth

ROMANCES

Bad he non ageyn 1 him go ;

Bitwen 2 his hondes he bar it in,

A[l] him one,3 to J?e kichin.

Bad he non him water to fete,

5 Ne 4 fro b[r]igge to here }>e mete.

He bar )>e turves,6 he bar ]>e star,6
]?e wode fro the brigge he bar ;

A1 that evere shulde 7 he nytte,8
A1 he drow,9 and al he kitte 10 ;
io Wolde he nevere haven rest,

More ]>an he were 11 a best.12
Of alle men was he mest 13 meke,
Lauhwinde 14 ay, and blipe of speke 16 ;
Evere he was glad and bli]>e,

15 His sorwe16 he coufe17 ful wel mi}>e.18

It ne was 19 non so litel knave,20
For to leyken,21 ne for to plawe,22
pat he ne wo[l]de with him pleye 28 ;
pe children that y[e]den in ]?e weie
20 Of him he 24 deden 25 al he[r] wille,

And with him leykeden here 26 fille.

Him loveden alle, stille and bolde,

Knictes, children, yunge and olde 27 ;

Alle him loveden ]>at him sowen,28
25 Bo|>en heye29 men and lowe.

Of him ful wide ]ie word sprong,

Hu30 he was mike[l],31 hu30 he was strong,
Hu fayr man God him havede maked,32

opposite

12 beast

23 play

MS. but bitwen

13 most

24 they

alone

14 laughing

25 did

nor

15 speech

26 their

turf, peat

16 sorrow

27 MS. holde

a kind of sedge or reed

I7 could

28 saw

MS. shulden

18 conceal

29 high

require for use

19 there was

30 how ; MS. hw

drew

20 lad, boy

81 tall

cut ; MS. citte

21 frolic

32 made

if he were (subj.)

22 sport

HAVELOK THE DANE

But-on ]>at 1 he was almest naked :

For he ne havede nouht to shride 2

But a kouel 3 ful unride,4

pat [was] ful 6 and swi]>e wicke,6

Was it nouht worth a fir-sticke.

pe cok bigan of him to rewe,7

And bouhte 8 him clo|>es, al span-newe 9 ;

He bouhte s him bope hosen and shon,

And sone dide him don es on.10

Hwan he was eloped, [h]osed, and shod.
Was non so fayr under God,
pat evere yete in er)>e were,11
Non pat evere moder 12 bere 13 ;

It 14 was nevere man pat yemede 1S
In kineriche,10 pat so wel semede 17
King or cayser for to be ;
pan 18 he was shrid,19 so semede 20 he ;

For panne 18 he 21 weren alle samen 22
At Lincolne, at pe gamen,'28
And pe erles men woren 24 al[le] pore,25
pan was Havelok bi pe shuldren26 more27
pan pe meste 28 pat per kam ;

In armes him no man [ne] nam
pat he doune sone ne caste ;

Havelok stod over hem als a mast.

Als he was heie, so 29 he was strong,80
He was bope stark 31 and long 82 ;

In Engelond [was] non hise per83

1 except in one respect, that

12 mother

23 games

2 to clothe himself

18 bore

24 were

3 garment

14 there

25 there

4 rough

15 governed

28 shoulders

5 foul

16 kingdom ; MS. kinneriche

2" taller

6 mean

17 was fit

28 tallest

7 have pity

18 when

29 MS. al

8 bought

I9 clothed

30 MS. long

9 quite new

20 seemed

81 sturdy

10 made him put them on

21 they

32 MS. strong

u was

22 together

33 peer, equal

ROMANCES

Of streng}>e )>at evere kam him ner.1
Als he was strong, so was he softe 2 ;
J?ey8 a man him misdede 4 ofte,

Nevere more he him misseyde,5
5 Ne hond on him with yvele leyde.

Of bodi was he mayden clene ;

Nevere yete in garth,6 ne in grene,

Wit[h] hire 7 ne wolde [he] leyke ne lye,
No more ]>an it were a strie.8
io In ]?at time al Engelond 9

]?erl 10 Godrich havede in his hond,

And he gart 11 komen into )>e tun 12
Mani erl and mani barun ;

And alle [men] ]>at lives 13 were
15 In Eng[e]lond, }>anne wer ]>ere,

pat ]>ey haveden after sent
To ben per at )>e parlement.

With hem com mani champioun,14
Mani wiht 15 ladde,16 blac, and brown ;

20 An[d] fel 17 it so ]>at yunge men,

Wei abouten nine or ten,

Bigunnen )>ere 13 for to layke :

pider komen hope stronge and wayke 19 ;

pider komen lesse and more,

25 pat in }re borw 20 ]>anne weren ]?ore 21 ;

Chaumpiouns,22 and starke laddes,
Bondemen,23 with here 24 gaddes,'25
Als he 26 comen fro ]>e plow ;

]?ere was sembling 27 inow !

1 near

2 mild, gentle
8 though

4 injured

6 reproached, spoke ill of; MS. misdede
c garden, enclosure ; MS. game

7 her (a woman)

8 old hag

9 MS. Hengelond

1° the earl

11 made, had

12 town

13 alive

14 MS. chambioun
16 stout

16 lad

17 happened

18 MS. j>e

19 weak

20 borough

21 there

22 MS. chaunpiouns
28 husbandmen

24 their
26 goads

26 they

27 assembling

HAVELOK THE DANE

For it1 ne was non horse-knave,'2
pou 8 pei sholden in honde have,4
pat he ne kam }>ider, pe leyk 6 to se :

Biforn here fet panne lay a tre,

And putten 6 with a rnikel ston
pe starke laddes, ful god won.7
pe ston was mikel, and ek 8 gret,

And al so hevi so a net 9 ;

Grundstalw[u]rpe 10 man he sholde 11 be
pat mouhte 12 liften it to his kne ;

Was per neyper clerc ne prest 13
pat mihte 12 liften it to his brest :
perwit[h] 14 putten the chaumpiouns 16
pat pider comen with pe barouns.

Hwoso mihte putten pore
Biforn anoper an inch or more,

Wore 16 he yung, wore he old,17
He was for a kempe 18 told.19

Also 20 pe[i] stoden, an[d] ofte stareden,21
pe chaumpiouns,18 and ek the ladden 22 ;

And he 23 maden mikel strout 24
Abouten pe alperbeste 25 b[o]ut,26
Havelok stod, and lokede pertil 27 ;

And of puttingge he was ful wil,28
For nevere yete ne saw he or29
Putten the stone, or29 panne por.

Hise mayster bad him gon perto,

1 there

2 groom
8 MS. Jjo

4 Though they ( for he) should have [work]

in hand

5 game

6 put ; MS. pulten

7 in considerable numbers (won = plenty)

8 also

9 young ox

1° extremely stalwart

11 had need to

12 could

13 priest

14 with this

15 MS. chaunpiouns

10 were

11 MS. hold

18 knight, champion

19 counted

20 as

21 stared

22 lads
28 they

24 contention

26 best of all
20 bout, throw

27 thereto

28 inexperienced

29 before

5. ston : for the history of the game, see note in Skeat’s edition.

ROMANCES

Als he coufe 1 ferwith do.

]?o hise mayster it him bad,

He was of him sore adrad ;

)?erto he stirte 2 sone anon,

And kipte 3 up fat hevi ston,

]?at he sholde put[t]en wife ;

He putte, at fe firste sife,4
Over6 alle fat fer wore,

Twel[ve] fote,6 and sumdel 7 more.
pe chaumpiouns 8 fat [fat] put sowen,9
Shuldreden he ilc of er,1D and lowen 11 ;
Wolden he no more to putting gange,

But seyde : 'We dwellen her to 12 longe 1 ’
f>is selkouth 13 mihte nouht ben hyd :

Ful sone it was ful loude kid 14
Of Havelok, hu 16 he warp 16 f e ston
Over fe laddes everilkon 17 ;

Hu 15 he was fayr, hu 15 he was long,

Hu 15 he was wiht,18 hu 15 he was strong ;
]?orhut 19 England yede fe speke,20
Hu 15 he was strong, and ek [ful] meke ;

In the castel, up in fe halle,
pe knihtes speken ferof alle,

So that Godrich it herde wel.

]?e[i] speken of Havelok, everi del,21
Hu 15 he was strong man and hey,

Hu 16 he was strong, and ek [ful] sley 22 ;
And fouhte 23 Godrich : ' }?oru 24 f is knave
Shal Ich Engelond al have,

And mi sone after me ;

1 could

2 leaped

3 snatched

4 time

5 beyond

6 feet

" somewhat
8 MS. chaunpiouns

9 saw

10 one another

11 laughed

12 too

13 wonder

14 made known

15 MS. hw
13 threw

17 every one

18 courageous

19 throughout ; MS. )>oruth

20 speech; MS. speche

21 on every side (?)

22 skilful [MS. fri

23 MS. fouthte

24 through

HAVELOK THE DANE

For so I wile fat it be.

King 1 Afelwald me dide 2 swere

Upon al fe messe-gere8

)?at Y shu[l]de his douhter yive4

)7e hexte5 [man] fat mihte live, 5

beste, fe fairest, fe strangest 6 ok ;

}?at gart ' he me sweren on fe bok.

Hwere mihte I finden ani so hey
So Havelok is, or so sley ?

£>ou[h] Y souhte hefen 8 into Ynde,9 10

So fayr, so strong, ne mihte Y finde.

Havelok is fat ilke 10 knave
J">at shal Goldeborw have.’

]?is fouhte [he] with trechery,

Wit[h] traysoun, and with felony; 15

For he wende 11 fat Havelok wore 12
Sum cherles sone, and no more ;

Ne shulde he haven of Engellond
Onlepi 13 forw 14 in his hond

With hire fat was ferof [fe] eyr,ls 20

J?at bofe was god and swife fair.

He wende fat Havelok wer a fral,16
perforu17 he wende haven al
In Engelond, fat hire riht was ;

He werse was 18 fan Sathanas 25

pat Jesu Crist in erfe shop 19 ;

Hanged worfe 20 he on an hok !

After Goldebo[r]w sone he sende,
pat was bofe fayr and hende,21

And dide hire to Lincolne bringe 22 ; 30

1 MS. the king

9 India

11 for this reason, by this means

2 caused

10 very

18 MS. was werse

3 utensils of the mass

U supposed

19 shaped, created

4 MS. yeve

12 was

20 may he be

5 highest, tallest

13 a single

21 gentle, courteous

« strongest

I4 furrow

22 and had her brought to Lincoln

7 made

15 heir

8 hence

46 slave

ROMANCES

Belles dede he ageyn hire 1 ringen,

And joie he made hire swife mikel,

But nefeles 2 he was ful swikel.8
He seyde fat he sholde hire yive 4
5 pe fayrest man that mihte live.

She answerede and seyde anon,

Bi [Jesu] Crist and bi Seint John,5
J>at hire sholde no man wedde,

Ne no man bringen hire to 6 bedde,
io But7 he were king or kinges eyr,

Were he nevere man so fayr.

Godrich fe erl was swife wroth
pat she swor swilk 8 an oth,

And seyde : ' Hwefer 9 fou wilt be
i s Quen and levedi 10 over me ?

J?ou shalt haven a gadeling,11
Ne shalt fou haven non ofer king ;
pe shal spusen 12 mi cokes knave ;

Shalt 18 fou non ofer loverd 14 have.

20 Dafeit fat 15 f e of er 16 yive 4

Everemore hwil I live !

To-mo[r]we sholen17 ye18 ben weddet,

And, maugre fin,19 togidere beddet.’
Goldeborw gret,20 and was hire ille 21 ;

25 She wolde ben ded, bi hire wille.

On fe morwen, hwan day was sprungen,
And daybelle 22 at [f e] kirke 28 rungen,
After Havelok sente fat Judas,
pat werse was fanne Sathanas,

1 at her approach

9 MS. hwor

17 shall

2 nevertheless

10 lady

48 MS. ye sholen

8 deceitful

U vagabond, low fellow

19 in spite of thee

4 MS. yeve

42 marry

20 wept

5 MS. Iohan

18 MS. ne shalt

21 it was ill for her

6 MS. to hire

44 lord

22 matin-bell

7 unless

15 a curse upon him who

28 church

* such

16 another

HAVELOK THE DANE

And seyde : ' Mayster, wiltu 1 wif 2 ? ’

' Nay,’ quoth Havelok, ' bi my lif !

Hwat sholde Ich with wive 8 do ?

I ne may hire fede, ne clo|>e, ne sho.
[HJwider sholde Ich wimman4 bringe ?

I ne have none kin[n]es5 )>inge.

I ne have hus,6 Y ne have cote,

I ne 7 have stikke, Y ne have sprote,8
I ne have ney}>er bred ne sowel,9
Ne cloth, but of an old whit 10 couel.11
pis 12 clones, ]>at Ich onne have,

Aren |>e kokes, and Ich his knave.’

Godrich stirt 13 up, and on him dong 14
[With dintes18 swijte hard and strong],16
And seyde : ' But 17 }>ou hire take
pat Y wole yeven pe to make,18
I shal hangen )>e ful heye,

Or Y shal pristen 19 ut Tin eie.20 ’

Havelok was one,21 and was adrad,22
And grauntede him al ]>at he bad.
po 28 sende he after hire sone,24
pe fayrest wymman under mone 26 ;

And seyde til hire, [fals] 16 and slike,26
pat wicke pral, pat foule swike 27 :

' But J>u pis man understonde,28
I shal flemen 29 pe of 80 londe ;

Or Jjou shal[t] to }>e galwes 81 renne,82

1 wilt thou ; MS. wilte

12 these

28 then

2 take a wife

I3 started

24 soon

3 MS. wif

I4 struck

28 the moon

4 a woman

15 blows

28 smooth

8 of no kind

18 Supplied by Skeat

27 traitor

6 MS. hws

11 unless

28 receive

7 MS. ne i

18 mate, wife

29 banish

8 sprout, twig

19 thrust

30 from

2 relish eaten with bread

28 MS. heie

81 gallows

1° MS. hold with

21 alone

32 run

n garment

22 MS. odrat

ROMANCES

And per pou shalt in a fir brenne.’ 1
Sho 2 * was adrad, for he so prette,8
And durste 4 nouht pe spusing 5 lette 6 ;
But pey 7 hire likede 8 swipe ille,

5 [Sho] pouhte it was Godes wille :

God, pat makes to growen pe kom,
Formede hire wimman to be bom.

Hwan he havede him don,9 for drede,
pat he sholde hire spusen and fede,

And pat she sholde til him holde,

]?er weren penies 10 picke tolde,11
Mikel plente upon pe bok :

He12 ys 13 hire yaf, and she [e]s 14 tok. .

He 15 weren spused fayre and wel :
pe messe he dede,16 [and] everidel 17
pat fel 18 to spusing, a 19 god cle^k,20
pe Erchebishop ut of 21 Yerk,
pat kam to pe parlement,

Als God him havede pider sent.

Hwan he 22 togydere in Godes lawe
Weren,28 pat24 folc25 ful wel it sawe,

He ne wisten 26 hwat he mouhten,27
Ne he ne wisten [h]wat hem douhte 28 —
per to dwellen, or penne 29 to gonge.

J>er ne wolden he dwellen longe ;

For he wisten, and ful wel sawe,

Godrich 30 hem hatede, pe devel him awe 81 !
And yf he dwelleden per ouht 32 —

1 burn

2 she

8 threatened

4 dared

6 marriage

6 hinder

7 though

8 it pleased her

9 caused ; MS. don him

1° pennies

n counted in great number

12 Godrich

13 them

14 them ; MS. as

15 they

1® performed ; MS. deden

17 everything

18 pertained

19 MS. and

20 clergyman

21 out of, from

22 they

28 Transposed from preceding
line (weren togydere)

24 MS. hat he

25 people
28 knew

27 could do

28 availed them

29 thence

80 MS. hat Godrich
84 own, possess ; MS. hawe
82 any space of time

1 wicked

2 liefer, rather
8 therefore

4 they

5 counsel, help

6 flee
' to

8 thought

9 best of all

10 prosper

HAVELOK THE DANE 31

pat fel Havelok ful wel on fouht —

Men sholde don his leman shame,

Or elles bringen in wicke 1 blame ;

J>at were him levere2 to ben ded.

Forfi 3 he 4 token ano]>er red,5

pat f ei sholden f enne fle 6

Til 7 Grim, and til 7 hise sones fre ;

per wenden s he 4 alferbeste 9 to spede,10

Hem 11 for to clofe, and for to fede.

pe lond he 4 token under fote,12

Ne wisten he 4 non o]>er bote,13

And helden ay the rihte sti 14

Til he 4 komen to Grimesby.

panne lo he 4 komen fere, fanne was Grim ded,

Of him ne haveden he 4 no red ;

But hise children alle fyve
Alle weren yet on live 16 ;
pat 17 ful fayre ayen 18 hem neme,19
Hwan he 4 wisten fat he 4 kerne,20
And maden joie swife mikel ;

Ne weren he4 nevere ayen hem fikel.21
On knes ful fayre he 4 hem setten,

And Havelok swife fayre gretten,22
And seyden : ' Welkome, loverd 23 dere,

And welkome be fi fayre fere 24 !

Blessed be fat ilke f rawe 25
pat fou hire toke in Godes lawe !

Wel is us 26 we sen f e on lyve,
pou mihte 27 us bofe selle and yive 28 ;

11 themselves

12 they walked
18 remedy
14 road
-5 when

16 in life = alive
11 who

18 towards

19 went

20 were coming

21 fickle

22 greeted
28 lord

24 companion, wife

25 time, moment

26 to us ; MS. hus
2” might

28 MS. yeve

ROMANCES

]?ou mayt us bofe yive 1 and selle,

With-fat 2 fou wilt here dwelle.

We haven, loverd, alle gode,3
Hors,4 and net,5 and ship on flode,6
5 Gold, and silver, and michel auhte,7

pat Grim ure fader us bitauhte 8 ;

Gold, and silver, and ofer fe 9
Bad he us bitaken 10 fe.

We haven shep, we haven swin,
io Bileve11 her, loverd, and al be pin !

po[u] shalt ben loverd, fou shalt ben syre,12
And we sholen serven fe and hire ;

And ure 18 sistres sholen do
Al that evere biddes sho 14 ;

15 He15 sholen hire clofes16 washen and wringen,

And to 17 hondes water bringen ;

He 15 sholen bedden 18 hire and fe,

For levedi wile we fat she be.’

Hwan he 15 fis joie haveden maked,

20 Sithen 19 stikes broken and kraked,

And fe fir brouht on brenne,20
Ne was fer spared gos21 ne henne,

Ne fe ende,22 ne fe drake,

Mete he 18 deden plente make ; 23
25 Ne wantede fere no god mete ;

Wyn and ale deden he 15 fete,24
And maden 25 hem glade and blife,

Wesseyl ledden 26 he fele sife.27

1 MS. yeve

2 provided that

3 property, goods

4 horses

5 cattle

6 sea

7 possessions; MS. auchte

8 delivered, committed; MS.bitawchte

9 property

10 deliver, commit

11 remain

12 seignior, master

13 our ; MS. hure

14 she

15 they

16 MS. cloven

17 for

is put to bed

19 afterwards

20 to burning

21 goose

22 duck ; MS. hende

23 they had plenty of meats

prepared

24 they caused to be brought

25 MS. made

26 they led wassails (drank

healths)

27 many times

HAVELOK THE DANE

On pe niht, as Goldeborw lay,

Sory and sorwful was she ay,

For she wende she were biswike,1
J?at she were 2 yeven 3 unkyndelike.4

O niht 8 saw she perinne a liht,6 5

A swipe fayr, a swipe bryht,

A1 so briht, al so shir7
So8 it were a blase 9 of fir.

She lokede no[r]p, and ek south,

And saw it comen ut of his mouth, io

pat lay bi hire in pe bed —

No ferlike 10 pou[h] she were adred 1
pouhte she : ' [H]wat may this bimene 11 ?

He beth 12 heyman 13 yet, als Y wene 14 ;

He beth heyman er he be12 ded.’ 15

On hise shuldre, of gold red
She saw a swipe noble croiz,16
Of an angel she herde a voyz 16 :

* Goldeborw, lat pi sorwe be,17

For Havelok, pat havep spuset pe, 20

Is 18 kinges sone and kinges eyr 19 ;
pat bikenneth 20 pat croiz so fayr.

It bikenneth more — pat he shal
Denemark haven, and Englond al ;

He shal ben king, strong and stark, 25

Of Engelond and Denemark ;
pat shal[t] pu wit[h] pin eyne sen,

And po[u] shalt quen and levedi ben.’

panne 21 she havede herd the stevene 22
Of pe angel ut of hevene, 30

s given

4 beneath her rank
s in the night

6 light

7 shining

1 cheated, deceived

2 MS. shere ( for she were)
8 eiven

11 mean

12 is

1° wonder

9 blaze

17 put aside thy sorrow

l® MS. he
19 heir

20 betokens

14 think

15 cross

16 voice

13 nobleman

21 when

22 voice

8 as if

ROMANCES

She was so fele sij>es 1 blithe
pat she ne mihte hire ioie mythe 2 —
But Havelok sone anon she kiste ;
And he slep, and nouht ne wiste 3
5 Hwat j>at aungel havede seyd.

GOWER, CONFESSIO AMANTIS

John Gower — 'moral Gower,’ as Chaucer called him — was born about
1330, and died between August 15 and October 24, 1408. He was of a Kentish
family, a layman, and a man of some wealth. For the most part, he probably
resided in London, and was personally known to Richard II. While living
in Southwark, he married one Agnes Groundolf on January 25, 1397/8, and
perhaps had been married before. He lies buried in St. Saviour’s, Southwark,
formerly called St. Mary Overey. The effigy of the poet, beneath a three-
arched canopy, exhibits his head resting upon three volumes, bearing the
names of his three principal works — Speculum Meditantis, Vox Cla.mav.tis, and
Cotifessio Amantis.

Of these the first, now known as the Mirour de P Omme ( Speculum Homitiis)
has only recently been discovered. This is in French, the Vox Clamantis in
Latin, and the Confessio Amantis in English. The French work was the earliest,
the Latin work was produced about 1382, while the English work assumed its
final form in 1393. The Confessio Amantis contains more than 33,000 lines,
surpassing the Mirour de 1' Omme by above 4000 lines. Besides these three,
Gower wrote several minor works. The whole has been critically edited in
four volumes by G. C. Macaulay (Oxford, 1899-1902). In the French and the
Latin poems, Gower’s tendency is markedly didactic. In the English poem
his general theme is love, which he illustrates by a series of 112 stories.

Lowell said, in his essay on Chaucer : ' Gower has positively raised tedious¬
ness to the precision of a science.’ A fairer judgment is that by Ker ( English
Literature, Mediceval, pp. 225-226) : ' Gower should always be remembered
along with Chaucer ; he is what Chaucer might have been without genius and
without his Italian reading, but with his critical tact, and much of his skill in
verse and diction. The Confessio Amantis is monotonous, but it is not dull.
Much of it at a time is wearisome, but as it is composed of a number of separate
stories, it can be read in bits, and ought to be so read. Taken one at a time,
the clear bright little passages come out with a meaning and a charm that may
be lost when the book is read too perseveringly.’

The Apollonius of Tyre, the first of our extracts, was first written in Greek
(probably third century), and afterwards translated into Latin. Gower para¬
phrased the Latin, and the Shakespearean (?) Pericles is, in turn, based upon

1 so many times, so very

2 conceal

8 knew

GOWER, CONFESSIO AMANTIS 35

Gower. For further particulars concerning Apollonius, see my First Book in
Old English, pp, 164-165.

The iEson story is derived from Ovid’s Metamorphoses (7. 162-293), 132 lines
of the original being expanded to 230. A portion of this Ovidian passage
(Met. 7. 197 ff.), extremely condensed by Gower, reappears in Shakespeare’s
Tempest 5. 1.33-50.

APOLLONIUS OF TYRE
8- 597-9 11

Of Tharsiens 1 his leve anon
He 2 tok, and is to schipe gon.

His cours he nam 3 with seil updrawe,4
Where as 5 Fortune doth 6 the lawe,

And scheweth, as I schal reherse,

How sche 7 was to this lord diverse,8
The which 9 upon the see sche ferketh.10
The wynd aros, the weder derketh,11
It blew and made such tempeste
Non ancher mai the schip areste,

Which hath tobroken al his gere 12 ;

The schipmen stode in such a feere,

Was non that myhte himself bestere,18
Bot evere awaite upon the lere,14
Whan that thei scholde drenche 15 at ones.
Ther was ynowh withinne wones 16
Of wepinge and of sorghe 17 tho 18 ;

This yonge king makth mochel wo
So for to se the schip travaile 19 :

Bot al that myhte him noght availe ;

The mast tobrak,20 the seil torof 21 ;

The schip upon the wawes drof,

1 the people of Tarsus

8 contrary

I5 drown

2 Apollonius

9 Apollonius

16 reach

3 took

10 conducts

17 sorrow

4 drawn up

11 grows dark

18 then

5 wherever

l2 tackle

I9 labor

6 makes, lays down

13 bestir

20 snapped

1 Fortune

n destruction, shipwreck (OE. lyre)

21 was rent

ROMANCES

Til that thei sihe 1 a londes cooste.

Tho made avou 2 the leste and moste,
Be so 8 thei myhten come alonde 4 ;

Bot he which hath the see on honde,
Neptunus, wolde noght acorde,

Bot altobroke 5 cable and corde ;

Er thei to londe myhte aproche,

The schip toclef 6 upon a roche,

And al goth doun into the depe.

Bot He that alle thing mai kepe
Unto this lord was merciable,

And broghte him sauf upon a table,7
Which to the lond him hath upbore ;
The remenant was al forlore,8
Whereof he made mochel mone.9

Thus was this yonge lord him one,14
Al naked in a povere plit 11 ;

His colour, which whilom 12 was whyt,
Was thanne of 13 water fade 14 and pale,
And ek he was so sore 15 acale 16
That he wiste 17 of himself no bote 18 :

It halp 19 him nothing for to mote 20
To gete ayein that he hath lore.21
Bot sche which hath his deth forbore,22
Fortune, thogh sche wol noght yelpe,23
Al sodeinly hath sent him helpe,
Whanne him thoghte alle grace aweie :
Ther cam a fisshere in the weie,

And sih 24 a man ther naked stonde ;
And whan that he hath understonde

1 saw

2 promise

8 on condition that

4 to land

5 broke asunder

6 clove asunder, split

7 plank

8 lost

9 moan

10 alone

11 plight

1,7 acold, cold

14 pale

15 very

42 aforetime
18 by reason of

17 knew

18 remedy

19 helped

29 wish (unique in this sense)

21 lost

23 boast

24 saw

22 withheld

GOWER, CONFESSIO AMANTIS

3 7

1 ruth, pity

2 only

8 loyalty

4 repaid

5 state, dignity

6 say
1 yea

The cause, he hath of him gret routhe,1
And, onliche 2 of his povere trouthe,8
Of suche clothes as he hadde
With gret pite this lord he cladde.

And he him thonketh as he scholde, 5

And seith him that it schal be yolde,4
If evere he gete his stat 8 ayein,

And preide that he wolde him sein 6
If nyh were eny toun for him.

He seide : ' Yee,7 Pentapolim, 10

Wher bothe king and queene duellen.’

Whanne he this tale herde tellen,

He gladeth him,8 and gan beseche
That he the weie him wolde teche 9 ;

And he him taghte ; and forth he wente, 1 5

And preide God with good entente 10
To sende him joie after his sorwe.

It was noght passed yit mid-morwe,u
Whan thiderward his weie he nam,12
Wher sone 18 upon the non 14 he cam. 20

He eet such as he myhte gete,

And forth anon, whan he hadde ete,

He goth to se the toun aboute,

And cam ther as 15 he fond a route

Of yonge lusti men withalle; 25

And as it scholde tho befalle,

That day was set of such assise 16
That thei scholde, in the londes guise,17
As he herde of the poeple seie,

Here 18 comun game thanne pleie ; 30

And crid 19 was that thei scholden come

8 himself
2 point out, show
1° intent

11 mid-morning

12 took
1® soon
14 noon

1® where

1B manner; MS. assisse
1? fashion
i® their

1* cried

ROMANCES

3°

1 games

2 one and all

3 active

4 nimble

6 feat

6 same

7 required

8 use

Unto the gamen 1 alle and some2 3
Of hem that ben delivere 8 and wyhte,4 *
To do such maistrie 6 as thei myhte.

Thei made hem naked as thei scholde,
For so that ilke 6 game wolde,7
As it was tho custume and us 8 ;
Amonges hem was no refus.9
The flour of al the toun was there,

And of the court also ther were ;

And that was in a large place
Riht evene 10 afore the kinges face,
Which Artestrathes 11 thanne hihte.12
The pley was pleid riht in his sihte,

And who most worthi was of dede
Receive he scholde a certein mede,18
And in the cite bere a pris.14

Appolinus, which, war15 and wys,

Of every game couthe 1B an ende,17
He thoghte assaie,18 hou so it wende,19
And fell among hem into game ;

And there he wan him such a name,

So as the king himself acompteth,20
That he alle othre men surmonteth,

And bar the pris above hem alle.

The king bad that into his halle
At souper-time he schal be broght ;

And he cam thanne, and lefte 21 it noght,
Withoute compaignie, alone.

Was non so semlich22 of persone,

Of visage and of limes 23 bothe,

9 refusal

10 directly

11 Arcestrates

12 was called

13 reward

14 prize

15 wary

16 knew

17 an ende = pretty thoroughly

18 to try

19 might turn out

20 deems

21 neglected

22 seemly

23 limbs

GOWER, CONFESSIO AM ANTIS

If that he hadde what to clothe 1 ;

At souper-time, natheles,

The king amiddes al the pres 5
Let 8 clepe 4 him up among hem alle,

And bad his mareschall 5 of halle
To setten him in such degre 6
That he upon him myhte se.

The king was sone set and served,

And he, which hath his pris deserved
After the kinges oghne 7 word,

Was mad beginne 8 a middel bord,9
That bothe king and queene him sihe. 10
He sat and caste aboute his yhe,

And sih the lordes in astat,11
And with himself wax 12 in debat,
Thenkende 18 what he hadde lore 14 ;

And such a sorwe he tok therfore,

That he sat evere stille and thoghte,

As he which of no mete 15 roghte.16

The king behield his hevynesse,17
And, of his grete gentillesse,

His doghter, which was fair and good,
And ate 18 bord before him stod,

As it was thilke 19 time usage,20
He bad to gon on his message,

And fonde 21 for to make him glad.

And sche dede as hire fader bad,

And goth to him the softe pas,22
And axeth whenne 23 and what he was,
And preith he scholde his thoghtes leve.24

3°

1 wear

9 table

1' sadness

2 press, crowd

10 might see

is at the

3 bade

n state

I9 that

4 to call

12 grew

20 custom

5 marshal

18 thinking

21 attempt

6 station

n lost

22 pace

' own

15 food

28 whence

8 to begin, sit at the head of

1® took account, recked

24 abandon

ROMANCES

He seith : ' Madame, be 1 your leve,

Mi name is hote 2 Appolinus ;

And of mi richesse it is thus —

Upon the see I have it lore.

The contre wher as I was bore,

Wher that my lond is and mi rente,8
I lefte at Tyr, whan that I wente ;

The worschipe4 of this worldes aghte,5
Unto the god ther I betaghte.6’

And thus togedre as thei tuo speeke,

The teres runne be 7 his cheeke.

The king, which therof tok good kepe,®
Hath gret pite to sen him wepe,

And for his doghter sende ayein,

And preide hir faire, and gan to sein 9
That sche no lengere wolde drecche,10
Bot that sche wolde anon forth fecche

1 by

2 called

3 income

4 honor

5 goods

6 committed

7 along, down

Hire harpe, and don al that sche can
To glade with 11 that sory man.

And sche, to don hir fader 12 heste,13
Hir harpe fette,14 and, in the feste,15
Upon a chaier which thei fette
Hirself next to this man sche sette ;

With harpe bothe, and ek with mouthe,

To him sche dede al that sche couthe
To make him chiere 16 — and evere he siketh 17 ;
And sche him axeth hou him liketh.18
' Madame, certes 19 wel,’ he seide,

' Bot, if ye the mesure pleide
Which, if you list, I schal you liere,20
It were a glad thing for to hiere.’

8 heed

9 say

10 delay

11 with which to gladden

12 father’s

13 command

14 fetched

16 feast

18 entertainment

17 sighs

18 it pleases him

19 certainly

20 teach

GOWER, CONFESSIO AM ANTIS

' Ha, lieve sire,1 ’ tho 2 3 quod sche,

' Now tak the harpe, and let me se
Of what mesure that ye mene.’

Fho preith the king, tho preith the queene,

Forth with 8 the lordes alle are we, 4 5 5

That he som merthe wolde schewe ;

He takth the harpe, and in his wise
He tempreth,6 and of such assise 6
Singende he harpeth forth withal,

That as a vois celestial 10

Hem thoghte 7 it souneth in here ere,

As thogh that he an angel were.

Thei gladen of his melodie ;

Bot, most of all the compainie,

The kinges doghter, which it herde, 15

And thoghte ek 8 hou that he ansuerde,

Whan that he was of9 hire opposed,10
Withinne hir herte hath wel supposed
That he is of gret gentilesse.

Hise dedes ben therof witnesse, 20

Forth with the wisdom of his lore ;

It nedeth noght to seche 11 more —

He myhte noght have such manere,

Of gentil blod bot-if12 he were.

Whanne he hath harped al his fille, 25

The kinges heste to fulfille,

Awey goth dissh, awey goth cuppe,

Doun goth the bord, the cloth was uppe,

Thei risen and gon out of halle.

The king his chamberlein let calle, 30

And bad that he be alle weie 18
A chambre for this man pourveie,14

1 dear sir

2 then

3 together with

4 successively (in a row)

5 tunes

6 in such manner

7 it seemed to them

8 eke, also

9 by

1° questioned

11 seek

12 unless

43 without fail

74 Durvev. nrn

purvey, provide

ROMANCES

Which nyh his oghne chambre be.1
’ It schal be do,2 mi lord,’ quod he.
Appolinus, of whom I mene,3
Tho tok his leve of king and queene,
And of the worthi maide also,

Which preide unto hir fader tho
That sche myhte of that yonge man
Of tho 4 sciences whiche he can 8
His lore 6 have ; and in this wise
The king hir granteth his aprise,7
So that himself therto assente.

Thus was acorded, er thei wente,
That he, with al that evere he may,
This yonge faire freisshe may 8
Of that he couthe scholde enforme ;
And, full assented in this forme,

Thei token leve as for that nyht.

And, whanne it was amorwe 9 lyht,
Unto this yonge man of Tyr
Of clothes and of good atir,

With gold and selver to despende,10
This worthi yonge lady sende ;

And thus sche made him wel at ese ;
And he, with al that he can plese,
Hire serveth wel and faire 11 ayein.
He tawhte hir til sche was certein
Of harpe, of citole,12 and of rote,13
With many a tun 14 and many a note
Upon musique, upon mesure ;

And of hire harpe the temprure 18
He tawhte hire ek, as he wel couthe.

1 should be

2 done

8 make mention

6 teaching

7 instruction

8 damsel

9 in the morning
1° spend

11 fairly

72 dulcimer

73 violin

14 tune

15 tuning

4 those
6 knows

GOWER, CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Bot, as men sein that frele 1 is youthe,
With leisir 2 and continuance
This mayde fell upon a chance,

That Love hath mad him 3 a querele 4
Ayein hire youthe freissh and frele,

That malgre 5 wher 6 sche wole 7 or noght,
Sche mot 8 with al hire hertes thoght
To Love and to his lawe obeie ;

And that sche schal ful sore abeie,9
For sche wot10 nevere what it is,

Bot evere among 11 sche fieleth 12 this.
Thenkende upon this man of Tyr,

Hire herte is hot as eny fyr,

And otherwhile it is acale ;

Now is sche red, nou is sche pale,

Riht after the condicion
Of hire ymaginacion ;

Bot evere among hire thoghtes alle,

Sche thoghte, what so mai befalle,

Or 13 that sche lawhe,14 or that sche wepe,
Sche wolde hire goode name kepe,

For feere of wommanysshe 16 schame.

Bot, what in ernest and in game,

Sche stant 16 for love in such a plit 17
That sche hath lost al appetit
Of mete, of drinke, of nyhtes reste,

As sche that not 18 what is the beste.

Bot, for to thenken al hir fille,

Sche hield 19 hire ofte times stille
Withinne hir chambre, and goth noght oute ;

1 frail

2 leisure

8 for himself

4 attack

5 in spite of

6 whether

7 will

9 atone for
1° knows

11 in the course (of things)

12 feels

is whether
l< laugh

8 must

15 womanly
1® stands

17 plight

18 knows not

19 held

ROMANCES

The king was of hire lif in doute,

Which wiste nothing what it mente.

Bot fell a time, as he out wente
To walke, of princes sones thre
Ther come and felle to his kne ;

And ech of hem in sondri wise
Besoghte and profreth his servise,

So that he myhte his doghter have.

The king, which wolde his honour save,
Seith sche is siek,1 and of that speche
Tho 2 was no time to beseche ;

Bot ech of hem do make 3 a bille 4
He bad, and wryte his oghne wille,

His name, his fader, and his good 6 ;
And whan sche wiste hou that it stod,
And hadde here 6 billes oversein,7
Thei scholden have ansuere ayein.

Of this conseil thei weren glad,

And writen as the king hem bad ;

And every man his oghne bok
Into the kinges hond betok,8
And he it to his dowhter sende,

And preide hir for to make an ende
And wryte ayein hire oghne hond,

Riht 9 as sche in hire herte fond.

The billes weren wel received ;

Bot sche hath alle here loves weyved,10
And thoghte tho was time and space
To put hire in hir fader11 grace,

And wrot ayein, and thus sche saide :

' The schame which is in a maide
With speche dar noght ben unloke,12

1 sick

2 then

3 cause to make, have made

4 memorandum

5 property

6 their

~ looked over
8 delivered

8 just

10 put aside, rejected

11 father’s
42 unlocked

GOWER, CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Bot in writinge it mai be spoke ;

So wiyte I to you, fader, thus :

Bot-if I have Appolinus,

Of al this world, what so betyde,

I wol non other man abide ; 5

And certes if I of him faile,

I wot riht wel, withoute faile,

Ye schull for me be dowhterles.’

This lettre cam, and ther was press

Tofore 1 the king, ther as 2 he stod ; io

And whan that he it understod,

He yaf 3 hem ansuer by and by 4 ;

Bot that was do 5 so prively
That non of othres conseil wiste.

Thei toke her leve, and wher hem liste 6 15

Thei wente forth upon here weie.

ARSON’S RESTORATION TO YOUTH
5- 3945-4174

Jason, which sih his fader old,

Upon Medea made him 7 bold

Of art magique, which sche couthe,8

And preith hire that his fader 9 youthe 20

Sche wolde make ayeinward 10 newe ;

And sche, that was toward him trewe,

Behihte 11 him that sche wolde it do,

Whan that sche time sawh therto.

Bot what sche dede in that matiere 12 25

It is a wonder thing to hiere ;

Bot yit, for the novellerie,13
I thenke tellen a partie.14

1 before

6 it was pleasing to them

11 promised

2 where

7 himself

12 matter

3 gave

8 knew

13 novelty

4 directly

9 father’s

14 part

s done

10 again

ROMANCES

Thus it befell upon a nyht,

Whan ther was noght bot sterreliht,

Sche was vanyssht riht as hir liste,1
That no wyht bot hirself it wiste,

And that was ate 2 mydnyht-tyde.

The world was stille on every side ;

With open hed and fot al bare,

Hir her 8 tosprad,4 sche gan to fare ;
Upon hir clothes gert6 sche was.

Al specheles,6 and on the gras,

Sche glod 7 forth as an addre doth —
Non otherwise sche ne goth — -
Til sche cam to the freisshe flod ;

And there a while sche with8 stod.
Thries sche torned hire aboute,

And thries ek sche gan doun loute,

And in the flod sche wette hir her ;

And thries on the water ther
Sche gaspeth with a drecchinge 9 onde,10
And tho sche tok hir speche on honde.
Ferst sche began to clepe 11 and calle
Upward unto the sterres alle ;

To wynd, to air, to see, to lond,

Sche preide, and ek hield up hir hond
To Echates1'2 — and gan to crie —
Whiche is goddesse of sorcerie.

Sche seide : ' Helpeth 13 at this nede,
And, as ye rnaden me to spede 14
Whan Jason cam the flees to seche,

So help me nou, I you beseche.’

With that sche loketh, and was war
Doun fro the sky ther cam a char,15

1 pleased

2 at the
8 hair

4 spread abroad (Lat. nudos humeris

7 glided

8 by, near

9 troubled, agonizing

6 Lat .per muta silentia noctis

14 succeed
16 chariot

42 Hecate
13 help

infusa capillos)

6 girt (Lat. vestes induta recinctas)

10 breath
U cry

GOWER, CONFESSIO AMANTIS

The which dragouns aboute drowe 1 ;

And tho sche gan hir hed doun bowe,

And up sche styh,2 and faire and wel
Sche drof 3 forth bothe char and whel 4
Above in th’ air among the skyes.

The lond of Crete and tho 6 parties 6
Sche soughte, and faste gan hire hye,7
And there, upon the hulles 8 hyhe
Of Othrin and Olimpe also,

And ek of othre hulles mo,9

Sche fond 10 and gadreth herbes suote 11 ;

Sche pulleth up som be the rote,

And manye with a knyf sche scherth,12
And alle into hir char sche berth.

Thus whan sche hath the hulles sought,
The flodes ther foryat sche nought 18 —
Eridian and Amphrisos,

Peneie and ek Spercheidos ;

To hem sche wente, and ther sche nom 14
Bothe of the water and the fom,

The sond, and ek the smale stones —
Whiche as sche ches 15 out for the nones 16 ;
And of the Rede See a part
That was behovelich 17 to hire art

drew

1 hie, hasten

13 not

ascended

8 hills

14 took

drove

9 more

15 chose

wheel

10 found

16 nonce

those

11 sweet

17 needful

parts

12 shears

6. Crete : this reposes upon a corrupt reading of the Latin ; read perhaps
' Thrace.’

9. Othrin : Othrys ; Medea flies in a circuit about Thessaly.

17. Eridian : not the Eridanus (Po), but the Apidanus, one of the tributaries
of the Peneus, which flows through the vale of Tempe. — Amphrisos: a small
river flowing northeast into the modern Gulf of Volos.

18. Spercheidos : the Spercheius is south of the preceding.

23. Rede See : Macaulay suggests that Gower read ' rubrum ’ for the ' refluum ’
of Ovid’s line 267.

ROMANCES

Sche tok ; and, after that, aboute
Sche soughte sondri sedes oute
In feldes, and in many greves 1 ;

And ek a part sche tok of leves ;

Bot thing which mihte hire most availe
Sche fond in Crete 2 and in Thessaile.

In daies and in nyhtes nyne,

With gret travaile and with gret pyne 3
Sche was pourveid 4 of every piece,

And torneth homward into Grece.
Before the gates of Eson
Hir char sche let awai to gon,

And tok out ferst that was therinne ;
For tho sche thoghte to beginne
Such thing as semeth impossible,

And made hirselven invisible,

As sche that was with air enclosed,

And mihte of no man be desclosed.
Sche tok up turves of the lond,
Withoute helpe of mannes hond,

A1 heled 5 with the grene gras,

Of which an alter mad ther was
Unto Echates the goddesse
Of art magique and the maistresse,
And eft another to Juvente,6
As sche which dede hir hole 7 entente.
Tho tok sche fieldwode 8 and verveyne ■
Of herbes ben noght betre tueine —

Of which anon, withoute let,9
These alters ben aboute set.

Tuo sondri puttes 10 faste 11 by
Sche made, and with that hastely

1 groves

2 See note on 1. 6, p. 47

3 MS. peyne

4 provided

5 covered

6 Youth (Hebe)

7 whole

8 woodland-growth ; Lat.

silva agresti, literally
translated

9 hindrance ; we still say with¬
out let or hindrance
1° pits
11 near

1 slew

2 pits

GOWER, CONFESSIO AMANTIS 49

A wether which was blak sche slouh,1
And out therof the blod sche drouh,

And dede into the pettes 2 tuo ;

Warm melk sche putte also therto,

With hony meynd 8 ; and in such wise 5

Sche gan to make hir sacrifice,

And cride and preide forth withal
To Pluto the god infernal,

And to the queene Proserpine.

And so sche soghte out al the line 10

Of hem that longen 4 to that craft —

Behinde was no name laft — •

And preide hem 5 alle, as sche wel couthe,

To grante Eson his ferste youthe.

This olde Eson broght forth was tho ; 15

Awei sche bad alle othre 6 go
Upon peril that mihte falle ;

And with that word thei wenten alle,

And leften there hem tuo alone.

And tho sche gan to gaspe and gone,7 20

And made signes many on,

And seide hir wordes therupon ;

So that, with spellinge of hir charmes,

Sche tok Eson in bothe hire armes,

And made him for to slepe faste, 25

And him upon hire herbes caste.

The blake wether tho sche tok,

And hiewh 8 the fleissh, as doth a cok ;

On either alter part sche leide,

And, with the charmes that sche seide, 30

A fyr doun fro the sky alyhte,

And made it for to brenne lyhte.

3 mingled 6 them 7 gape

4 belong 6 others * hewed

20. The next fifty lines are for the most part original (Macaulay).

ROMANCES

Bot whan Medea sawh it brenne,
Anon sche gan to sterte and renne 1
The fyri aulters al aboute.

Ther was no beste 2 which goth oute
More wylde than sche semeth ther :
Aboute hir schuldres hyng 8 hir her,

As thogh sche were oute of hir mynde,
And torned in another kynde.4
Tho lay ther certein wode cleft,

Of which the pieces nou and eft6
Sche made hem in the pettes wete,6
And put hem in the fyri hete,

And tok the brond with al the blase,
And thries sche began to rase7
Aboute Eson, ther as he slepte ;

And eft with water, which sche kepte,
Sche made a cercle aboute him thries,
And eft with fyr of sulphre twyes ;

Ful many another thing sche dede,
Which is noght writen in this stede.8

Bot tho sche ran so up and doun,
Sche made many a wonder9 soun,10
Somtime lich 11 unto the cock,

Somtime unto the laverock,12
Somtime kacleth as a hen,

Somtime spekth as don the men ;

And riht so as hir jargoun strange th, 18
In sondri wise hir forme changeth.
Sche semeth faie,14 and no womman ;
For, with the craftes that sche can,
Sche was, as who seith,15 a goddesse ;
And what hir liste, more or lesse,

1 ran

2 beast

3 hung

6 wet

7 race

8 place

is grows strange

14 fay, fairy

15 as one might say

11 like

12 lark

4 turned to another nature

5 again

9 wonderful
1° sound

GOWER, CONFESSIO AMANTIS

Sche dede,1 in bokes as we finde,

That passeth over mannes kinde.2
Bot who that wole 8 of wondres hiere —

What thing sche wroghte in this matiere,

To make an ende of that sche gan —

Such merveile herde nevere man.

Apointed in the newe mone,

Whan it was time for to done,

Sche sette a caldron on the fyr,

In which was al the hole atir4
Wheron the medicine stod —

Of jus,6 of water, and of blod —

And let it buile 6 in such a plit,7
Til that sche sawh the spume 8 whyt ;

And tho sche caste in rynde and rote,9
And sed and flour 10 that was for bote,11
With many an herbe and many a ston,

Wherof sche hath ther many on.

And ek Cimpheius the serpent
To hire hath alle his scales lent ;

Chelidre hire yaf his addres skin,

And sche to builen caste hem in ;

A part ek of the horned oule,

The which men hiere on nyhtes houle ;

And of a raven, which was told 12
Of nyne hundred wynter old,

Sche tok the hed with al the bile 13 ;

And as the medicine it wile,

10 flower

11 remedy

12 reckoned

13 bill

2 surpasses human
8 will

4 preparation
6 juice

nature

6 boil

7 manner

8 foam

9 rind and root

20. Here the Latin has nec defuit illic Squamea Cinyphii tenuis membrana
chelydri [Met. 7. 271-2), which King translates : ’ skin membranous Of Afric’s
tortoise caught by Cinyps’ banks’; Gower quite misunderstands. — Cf. Shake¬
speare’s 'fillet of a fenny snake ’ ( Macb . 4. 1. 12).

ROMANCES

Sche tok therafter the bouele
Of the seewolf,1 and for the hele 2
Of Eson, with a thousand mo
Of thinges that sche hadde tho,

In that caldroun togedre, as blyve,3
Sche putte, and tok thanne of olyve
A drie branche hem with to stere,4
The which anon gan floure 5 and here.

And waxe al freissh and grene ayein.

Whan sche this vertu hadde sein,6
Sche let the leste drope of alle
Upon the bare flor doun falle ;

Anon ther sprong up flour and gras
Where as the drope falle was,

And wox anon al medwe-grene,7
So that it mihte wel be sene.

Medea thanne knew and wiste
Hir medicine is for to triste,8
And goth to Eson ther he lay,

And tok a swerd was of assay,9

With which a wounde upon his side

Sche made, that therout mai slyde

The blod withinne, which was old

And sek 10 and trouble 11 and fieble and cold.

And tho sche tok unto his us 12

Of herbes al the beste jus,

And poured it into his wounde ;

That made his veynes fulle and sounde.

And tho sche made his wounde clos,

And tok his hand, and up he ros ;

5 flower

6 seen

7 meadow-green

8 trust

9 proof, tried qualities

1 shark ; Ovid means the werwolf

2 recovery

8 as quickly (as possible)

4 to stir them with

1° sick
11 turbid
42 use

8. 'And lo ! the sere wood in the caldron’s heat Grew sudden green, and
clad itself with leaves Afresh, and heavy drooped with berried fruit ’ (Ovid,
tr. King).

SIR GAWAIN AND THE GREEN KNIGHT

And tho sche yaf him drink a drauhte,

Of which his youthe 1 ayein he cauhte,*

His hed, his herte, and his visage
Lich unto twenty wynter age.

Hise hore 3 heres 4 were away ; 5

And lich unto the freisshe Maii,

Whan passed ben the colde schoures, 8
Riht so recovereth he his floures.

SIR GAWAIN AND THE GREEN KNIGHT

Sir Gawain and the Green A'night (about 1380) has been called by Gaston
Paris the jewel of English mediaeval literature (Hist. Litt. de la France 30. 73),
and by Schofield (Eng. Lit. from the Conquest to Chaucer, p. 21 5) ' incomparably
the best of the English romances, and one of the finest in any language.’ Of
the unknown author Schofield adds : ' Next to Chaucer his contemporary, he
is perhaps the greatest of our mediaeval poets.’

The romance has been edited by Madden (Syr Gawayne), 1839, and by
Morris (E.E.T.S. No. 4), 1864 (revised by Gollancz, 1897). For general accounts
of the author and his work, see Camb. Hist. Eng. Lit. 1. 357-373 (Gollancz), and
Osgood’s edition of The Pearl, pp. xi, xlvii-lix. A good prose translation is that
by K. G. T. Webster (Boston, 1916), and there is a humorous adaptation of the
poem in modern verse by Charlton M. Lewis (Gawayne and the Green Knight :
a Fairy Tale), Boston, 1903.

The story is probably from a French or Anglo-Norman source ; for analogues,
see Madden’s edition, pp. 305-7 ; M. C. Thomas, Sir Gawayne and the Green
Knight (Zurich, 1883), pp. 34-68; Gaston Paris, as above, 30. 75-7; Weston, pp.
88-102 ; Kittredge, A Study of Gawain and the Green Knight (Cambridge, 1916).

The incident of the beheading is found in the Fled Bricrend (translated in
Irish Texts Soc., Vol. 2), an Irish tale at least as early as 1100, in which the
hero Cuchulinn undergoes the test (Gaston Paris, p. 77 ; Weston, pp. 92 ff.).

It is an interesting fact that Richard de Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick
(1382-1439), a reputed descendant of the legendary Guy of Warwick, and 'a
brave and chivalrous warrior in an age of chivalry,’ entered the lists at Guines,
near Calais, in the character of 'the grene knyght ’ on Jan. 6 (Twelfth Day)
of either 1416 or 1417, and unhorsed a French knight, an exploit which he
equaled on the two following days (Kittredge, Harvard Notes 5. 94-95). A
recent article, dealing with the connection between this poem and the Order
of the Garter, by Isaac Jackson, will be found in Anglia 37. 393~423 > ^is author

1 youth

2 caught

8 hoar
4 hairs, hair

6 showers

ROMANCES

believes the date to be 1362. Chambers sees in the Green Knight a form of
the fertilization-spirit (The Medixval Stage 1. 117, 185-186).

The language of our author presents peculiar difficulties, as does that of
the whole school of alliterative poets which flourished during the second half
of the fourteenth and the early years of the fifteenth centuries. Of this school
Gollancz (p. 373) considers that he may well have been the master.

The poem is long, and full of incident and description. Its story runs thus :
While Arthur’s court is feasting at Camelot on New Year’s Day, a knight,
all in green, and riding a green charger, rides into the hall. He challenges
any knight present to give him a stroke with his battle-axe, on the understand¬
ing that it is to be rendered back to him a year later. All shrink back but
Arthur’s nephew, Gawain, who smites off the knight’s head, whereupon the
latter rides away with the head in his hand. Toward the end of the year,
Gawain sets out to find the knight, whom he eventually encounters. After
various temptations, he endures the return-blow — which, however, inflicts but
a slight wound — and later goes back to Arthur’s court. (For more extended
analyses, see J. L. Weston, Legend of Sir Gawain, pp. 86-88; Schofield,
pp. 21 5-217 ; Camb. Hist. Hng. Lit. 1. 364-365 : Morris’ ed., pp. viii-xxi.)

Morris has thus summarized the part of the poem which precedes our first
extract: 'Arthur, the greatest of Britain’s kings, holds the Christmas festival
at Camelot, surrounded by the celebrated knights of the Round Table, . . . and
ladies the loveliest that ever had life. This noble company celebrate the New
Year by a religious service, by the bestowal of gifts, and the most joyous mirth.
Lords and ladies take their seats at the table — Queen Guenever, the grey-
eyed, gaily dressed, sits at the dais. . . . Arthur, in mood as joyful as a child, . . .
declares that he will not eat nor sit long at the table until some adventurous
thing has occurred to mark the return of the New Year.

' The first course [is] announced with cracking of trumpets, with the noise
of nakers and noble pipes.’

Our extracts are lines 130-249, 2212-2478. The final 2 (for s) at the end of
words is frequently represented in the MS. by 5; here it is uniformly printed as z.

Now wyl I of hor 1 servise say yow no more,

For uch 2 wyge 3 may wel wife 4 no wont 5 pat per were ;

Anoper noyse ful newe nejed 6 bilive,7

pat pe lude 8 myjt haf leve liflode 9 to each.10

For unepe11 watz12 pe noyce13 not a whyle14 sesed,15

And pe fyrst cource in pe court kyndely 16 served,

1 their

7 on a sudden

13 noise (with which

2 each

8 people

was announced)

3 man

9 food

14 but just

4 know

10 take

15 ceased

5 want

11 scarcely

16 duly

6 drew nigh

12 was

SIR GAWAIN AND THE GREEN KNIGHT

]?er hales 1 in at )>e halle-dor an aghlich 2 mayster,3
On 4 ) e most 5 on j>e molde 6 on mesure hyghe ;

Fro )>e swyre7 to )>e svvange 8 so sware9 and so |>ik,
And his lyndes 10 and his lymes so longe and so grete,
Half etayn 11 in erde 12 I hope 13 )>at he were.

Bot mon most I algate 14 mynn 15 hym to bene,

And pat J>e myriest 16 in his muckel 17 ]>at myjt ride ;
For of bak and of brest al 18 were his bodi sturne,19
Bot 20 his wombe 21 and his wast were worthily smale,
And alle his fetures 22 folgande,28 in forme pat he hade,

Ful clene 24 ;

For wonder of his hue 25 men hade,

Set in his semblaunt 26 sene 27 ;

He ferde 28 as 29 freke 80 were fade,31
And overal 32 enker-grene.83

Ande al gray)>ed 34 in grene pis gome 85 and his wedes,86
A strayt87 cote38 ful street,39 pat stek on40 his sides,

A mere 41 mantile abof, mensked 42 withinne,

With pelure 43 pured 44 apert 45 }?e pane 46 ful clene,47
With blype 48 blaunner 49 ful bryjt, and his hod 60 bo]>e,

]?at watz lajt 51 fro his lokkez, and layde on his schulderes ;
Heme 52 wel haled,53 hose of pat same grene,

1 rushes

2 terrible

3 lord

4 one

5 largest

6 mold, earth

7 neck

8 loins

9 square

10 loins

11 giant (OE. eoteri)

12 earth

48 believe

44 nevertheless

45 think

46 most agreeable (?)

47 bigness

48 though

49 stalwart

2° yet

24 belly

22 parts of his body
28 accordingly

24 fine

25 MS. hwe

26 appearance

27 plain, manifest

28 acted

29 like
80 man

84 vigorous
32 all over

38 dark (inky) green

84 arrayed

85 man

86 apparel

37 tight-fitting

88 tunic

89 (!)

49 clung to

44 beautiful (OE. nixre)

42 adorned
48 fur

44 shorn close, so as to show

only one color

45 evidently

46 cloth

47 fair

48 gay

49 (white ?) fur
60 hood

64 caught
62 border
68 trimmed (?)

ROMANCES

pat spenet 1 on his sparlyr,2 and clene spures under,

Of bryjt golde upon silk hordes 8 barred ful ryche,4
And scholes 6 under schankes,6 j?ere fe schalk 7 rides ;

And alle his vesture verayly watz clene verdure,8
5 Bo]>e ]te barres of his belt and ojter blype stones,
pat were richely rayled9 in his aray clene,

Aboutte hymself and his sadel, upon silk werkez.10
pat were to tor 11 for to telle of tryfles pe halue,12
pat were enbrauded 13 abof wyth bryddes and flyjes,14
io With gay gaudi 15 grene,16 ]?e golde ay in myddes.

pe pendauntes of his payttrure,17 )>e proude cropure,18
His molaynes,19 and alle }>e metail anamayld 20 was J>enne ;
]?e steropes pat he stod on stayned of )>e same,

And his arsounz 21 al after, and his afel 22 sturtes,28
1 5 ]?at ever glemered 24 and glent 28 al of grene stones.
pt foie 26 pat he ferkkes 27 on, fyn 28 of pat ilke,29

Sertayn 80 ;

A grene hors gret and pikke,

A stede ful stif to strayne,81
20 In brawden 82 brydel quik,83

To ]>e gome he watz ful gayn.34

Wei gay watz ]ns gome gered 36 in grene,

And jte here of his hed of his hors swete 36 ;

Fayre fannand 37 fax 38 umbefoldes 39 his schulderes ;

A much 40

berd as a busk 41 over his brest henges,

1 fastened

16 yellowish

29 same (color)

2 calf

16 MS. of grene

80 certainly

8 edges

17 poitrel, horse’s breastplate

84 curb

4 richly

18 crupper

82 embroidered

5(?)

19 bits

88 lively

6 legs

20 enameled

84 obedient

7 man

24 saddle-bows

85 arrayed

8 pure green

22 noble

88 fine

9 disposed

28 stirrups (?)

87 waving

10 works

24 gleamed

88 hair

11 too tedious

25 sparkled

89 falls about

12 half

20 foal, steed

40 great

18 embroidered

27 pushes forward

44 bush

44 flies

. 28 fine choice

SIR GAWAIN AND THE GREEN KNIGHT

5 ;

pat wyth his hi^lich 1 here, |>at of his hed reches,

Watz evesed 2 al umbetorne,8 abof his elbowes,

pat half his armes )>erunder were halched 4 in fe wyse

Of a kyngez capados,5 fat doses 6 his swyre.

pe mane of fat mayn 7 hors much to hit lyke, 5

Wei cresped 8 and cemmed9 wyth knottes ful mony,

Folden in wyth fildore 10 aboute fe fayre grene,

Ay a 11 herle 12 of fe here, anofer of golde ;

pe tayl and his toppyng 13 twynnen 14 of a sute,15

And bounden bofe wyth a bande of a bryjt grene, io

Dubbed 16 wyth ful dere stonez, as fe dok lasted,17

Syfen 18 fra wen 19 wyth a fwong20 a fwarle21 knot alofte,

per mony bellez ful bryjt of brende 22 golde rungen.

Such a foie upon folde,23 ne freke fat hym rydes,

Watz never sene in fat sale 24 wyth sygt er fat tyme, 1 5

With yge 26 ;

He loked as layt 26 so lyjt,27
So sayd al fat hym syge,28
Hit semed as no mon myjt

Under his dynttez 29 dryge.30 20

Whefer 81 hade he no helme ne hawb[e]rgh naufer,82
Ne no pysan,38 ne no plate fat pented 34 to armes,

Ne no schafte,36 ne no schelde, to schune86 ne to smyte,
Bot in his on 37 honde he hade a holyn bobbe,88
pat is grattest 89 in grene when grevez 40 ar bare,

1 splendid

2 clipped
8 around

4 enlaced (with the hair)

5 hood

6 encloses

7 great

8 crisped
8 combed

1° gold thread

11 one

12 filament, hair
is crest (mane)

14 matched

is kind

18 adorned

1" as far as the dock (fleshy
part) extended
is beyond that point

19 twisted

20 thong

21 tight (?)

22 burnished
28 earth

24 hall
26 eye

26 lightning

27 bright

28 saw

29 strokes

80 endure

81 yet

82 neither
88 gorget

84 pertained
35 spear

86 protect ; MS. schwne

87 one

88 holly-branch

89 most pronounced
40 groves

58 ROMANCES

And an ax in his o)>er, a hoge 1 and unmete,2
A spetos 8 sparse 4 to expoun in spelle quoso mygt 6 ;
pe hede of an elngerde,6 )?e large lenk|?e 7 hade,
pe grayn 8 al of grene stele and of golde hewen,

5 pe bit9 burnyst brygt, with a brod egge,10

As wel schapen to schere 11 as scharp rasores ;
pe stele 12 of a stif staf }>e sturne 13 hit 14 bigrypte,15
pat watz wounden 16 wyth yrn to ]>e wandez 17 ende,
And al bigraven 18 with grene, in gracious 19 werkes 20 ;
io A lace 21 lapped aboute, fat louked 22 at |>e hede,

And so after 28 j?e halme 24 halched 25 ful ofte,

Wyth tryed 26 tasselez jterto 27 tacched 28 innoghe 29
On 80 botounz 31 of ]>e bryjt grene brayden 32 ful ryche.
pis hajrel 83 heldez hym in,84 and fe halle entres,

15 Drivande to fe hege dece,85 dut36 he no wofe,37

Haylsed 88 he never one, bot heje he overloked.39
pe fyrst word pat he warp 40 : ' Wher is,’ he sayd,

' pe govemour of pis gyng 41 ? Gladly I wolde
Se pat segg 42 in sygt, and with hymself speke
20 Raysoun.’

To knyjtez he kest43 his yje,

And reled 44 hym up and doun,

He stemmed,45 and con 46 studie
Quo 47 wait 48 her most renoun.

1 huge

17 wand’s, handle’s

84 takes his way

2 immense

18 engraved

85 dais

3 cruel

49 charming

86 feared

4 sparth, battle-axe

20 devices

87 injury

5 whoever might try to make it

21 cord

38 saluted

clear in speech

22 had a fastening

39 looked (loftily)

6 ell (long)

28 along

40 flung

7 length

24 haulm, stalk (i.e. handle)

44 company

8 blade

25 caught

42 man

9 cutting end

28 choice

43 cast

l° edge

27 to the cord

44 strode

11 shear

28 attached

45 halted

12 handle

29 sufficiently ; MS. innoghee

46 began

18 firmly

80 by means of

47 who

44 it (the axe-head)

84 buttons

48 bore

is gripped, clasped

82 braided (i.e. the buttons)

46 MS. waunden

88 noble

SIR GAWAIN AND THE GREEN KNIGHT

Ther watz lokyng on lenfe,1 ]>e lude 2 to beholde,

For uch mon had mervayle quat hit mene myjt,

]?at a hafel and a horse mygt such a hue lach,8
As growe grene 4 as ]>e gres — and grener hit semed,

}">en 6 grene aumayl 6 on golde lowande 7 bryjter. 5

A1 studied fat fer stod, and stalked hym nerre,8

Wyth al ]>e wonder of 9 )>e worlde, what he worch 10 schulde.

For fele 11 sellyez 12 had fay sen, bot such never are,18
Forfi 14 for fantoum and fayry^e 15 fe folk fer hit demed ;

}?erfore to answare watz arge 18 mony afel 17 freke,18 io

And al stouned 19 at his steven,20 and ston-stil seten 21
In a swoghe 22 sylence furj fe sale 23 riche,

As al were slypped upon 24 slepe — so slaked 26 hor 26 lotez 27 —

In hyge 28 ;

I deme hit not29 al for doute,80 15

Bot sum 81 for cortaysye —

Bot let 82 hym 83 fat al schulde loute 84
Cast 85 unto fat wyge.86

When the time of the return visit approaches (see introductory note),
Gawain sets out, and on Christmas Eve reaches a castle, where he is hospit¬
ably received by its lord and lady. Here he learns that the Green Chapel,
his destination, is only two miles distant, and accordingly accepts an invitation
to stay till New Year’s morning. During the host’s hunting-expeditions, his
wife makes love to Gawain, but is unsuccessful in her endeavors ; the kisses
she bestows upon him are by him passed on to the host at nightfall. However,
Gawain does accept from the lady a green girdle, which is to render him
secure from every danger. On his resort to the Green Chapel, he hears the
sound as of a blade sharpened on a grindstone.

1 for a long time

2 man

3 obtain

4 as to grow as green

5 than

6 enamel

7 shining

8 nearer

9 in

10 do

11 many

12 wonders

13 before

14 wherefore

15 enchantment

16 timid

17 noble

18 knight

19 were astonished

20 voice

21 sat

22 impotent, dead

23 hall

24 as if all had slipped (slid)

into sleep

28 relaxed (or subdued)

26 their

27 features (or looks ; possibly

voices)

28 haste

29 was not
80 fear

34 but that some were silent

32 but that they let

33 Arthur

34 reverence

38 make advances (?)

36 champion

ROMANCES

Thenne pe knygt con calle ful hyje 1 :

' Who stigtlez 2 in pis sted,3 me steven 4 to holde ?

For now is gode Gawayn goande 6 rygt here ;

If any wyge 6 ojt 7 wyl, wynne 8 hider fast,

5 Oper 9 now oper 10 never, his nedez 11 to spede.12 ’

' Abyde,’ quoth on on pe bonke, aboven over his hede,

' And pou schal haf al in hast pat I pe hyjt 13 ones.14 ’

^et he 15 rusched on 16 pat rurde 17 rapely 18 a prowe,19
And wyth 20 quettyng 21 awharf,22 er 23 he wolde lyjt 24 ;
io And sypen 25 he keverez 26 bi a cragge, and comez of 27 a hole,
Whyrlande out of a wro,28 wyth a felle 29 weppen,

A Denez30 ax nwe 31 dyjt,32 pe dynt with [t]o gelde33
With a borelych 34 bytte,35 bende 36 by pe halme,

Fyled in a fylor,37 fowre fote large 38 —
i s Hit watz no lasse — bi pat lace pat lemed 39 ful bryjt.

And pe gome in pe grene, gered as fyrst —

Bope pe lyre 40 and pe leggez, lokkez and berde — ;

Save pat fayre on his fote 41 he foundez 42 on pe erpe,

Sette pe stele 43 to the stone,44 and stalked bysyde.

20 When he wan to 45 pe watter, per he wade nolde,

He hypped 46 over on hys ax, and orpedly 47 strydez,

Bremly 48 brope,49 on a bent,60 pat brode watz aboute,

snawe.61

1 loudly

48 forthwith

85 edge

■ 2 dwells

19 (for) a time

38 bent

3 place

20 to

8" filing instrument

4 word, promise

21 whetting

88 broad

6 walking

22 turned aside

39 gleamed

6 man

28 before

40 face

7 anything

24 approach

4i (instead of on horseback)

8 let him win (speed)

25 afterwards

42 walks

9 either

26 makes his way

43 pole

1° or

27 out of

44 (on which he walked)

U needs

28 nook

45 reached

12 obtain

29 cruel

46 leaped

18 promised

80 Danish

4" boldly

I4 once

81 newly

48 vehemently

15 the Green Knight

82 made ready

49 impetuous

1® rushed back to

88 bestow

59 open field

I7 din (made by the grinding)

84 stout

51 snow

SIR GAWAIN AND THE GREEN KNIGHT 6

Syr Gawayn pe knyjt con mete,

He ne lutte 1 hym nopyng lowe ;

]">at oper sayde : ' Now, syr swete,

Of steven 2 mon 8 may pe trowe.4 ’

' Gawayn,’ quoth pat grene gome, ' God pe mot loke 6 !
Iwysse s pou art welcom, wyje, to my place,

And ]>ou hatz tymed pi travayl 7 as true mon schulde ;

And pou knowrez pe covenauntez kest 8 uus bytwene :

At pis tyme twelmonyth pou toke pat 9 pe failed,10
And I schulde at pis mve jere jeply 11 pe quyte.12
And we ar in pis valay, verayly oure one,18
Here ar no renkes 14 us to rydde,16 rele 16 as uus likez ;

Haf py 17 py helme of 18 py hede, and haf here py pay ;

Busk 19 no more debate pen I pe bede 20 penne,

When pou wypped 21 of my hede at a wap one.22 ’

' Nay, bi God,’ quoth Gawayn, ' pat23 me gost 24 lante,25
I schal gruch 26 pe no grwe,27 for grem 28 pat fallez ;

Bot styjtel 29 pe upon on strok, and I schal stonde stylle,
And warp 30 pe no wernyng,81 to worch as pe lykez,

No whare.’

He lened with pe nek, and lutte,
And schewed pat schyre al bare,
And lette 32 as 83 he nojt dutte,34
For drede he wolde not dare.85

2 promise
8 one
4 believe
® keep, preserve

6 surely

7 journey

8 cast, made

9 what
to fell

1 bowed

2 Dromis

74 men, knights
15 part, separate
18 rush about
17 therefore (possibly ; but

26 grudge

27 particle, bit (NED. grue)

28 harm

29 resolve, settle

80 utter

81 protest

82 acted, behaved
88 as though

84 doubted

85 that he would not shrink

perhaps delete)

18 from off

19 make ready

20 offered

21 didst strike

22 one blow only

U straightway
72 requite
is by ourselves

28 who

24 spirit, soul

25 gave, has given

ROMANCES

Then fe gome in fe grene grayfed hym swyfe,

Gederez up hys grymme tole,1 Gawayn to smyte ;

With alle fe bur 2 in his body he ber hit on lofte,®

Munt 4 as magtyly as 6 marre hym he wolde ;

5 Hade hit dryven adoun as dreg 6 as he atled,1

]?er hade 8 ben ded of his dynt fat 9 dogty watz ever.

Bot Gawayn on fat giserne 10 glyfte 11 hym bysyde,

As hit com glydande adoun, on glode 12 hym to schende,18
And schranke a lytel with fe schulderes, for fe scharp yme.
io )?at ofer schalk 14 wyth a schunt 15 fe schene 16 wythhaldez,

And fenne repreved he fe prynce with mony prowde wordez :

' J?ou art not Gawayn,’ quoth fe gome, ' fat is so goud 17 halden,
J?at never arged 18 for no here,19 by hylle ne be vale,

And now f ou fles for ferde,20 er fou fele harmez 21 ;

1 5 Such cowardise of fat knygt cowfe 22 I never here.

Nawfer fyked 23 I ne flage,24 freke, quen fou myntest,26
Ne kest 26 no kavelacoun 27 in kyngez hous Arthor,28
My hede flag 29 to my fote, and get flag I never ;

And fou, er any harme hent,30 argez in hert,

20 Wherfore fe better burne me burde 81 be called

perfore.’

Quoth Gawayn : ' I schunt 32 onez,

And so wyl I no more ;

Bot fag33 my hede falle on fe stonez,

25 I con not hit restore.84

1 tool, weapon

2 force

3 aloft

4 threatened

5 as if

6 straight

7 aimed

8 would have

9 he who

10 axe

41 looked

12 its passage (?)

13 destroy

14 man

15 slant

16 bright (blade)

17 brave

78 trembled

19 host

20 fear

21 before thou art much hurt

22 could

23 flinched

24 fled

25 didst aim

26 raised

27 objection

28 genitive case

29 flew

30 seized

31 I ought to

32 dodged

33 though

34 (as the Green Knight did)

SIR GAWAIN AND THE GREEN KNIGHT

Bot busk,1 burne,2 bi }>i fayth, and bryng me to pe poynt,
Dele to me my destine, and do hit out of honde,

For I schal stonde pe a strok, and start 8 no more,

Til pyn ax have me hitte — haf here my trawpe.’

' Haf at pe penne,’ quoth pat oper, and heves hit alofte,
And waytez 4 as wropely as he wode were ;

He myntez 5 at hym majtyly,6 bot not pe mon ryvez,7
Withhelde heterly 8 h[i]s honde, er hit hurt myjt.

Gawayn graypely 9 hit bydez, and glent 10 with no membre,
Bot stode stylle as )>e ston, oper 11 a stubbe auper,12
pat raveled 18 is in roche 14 grounde, with rotez a hundreth.
pen muryly efte con 15 he mele,16 pe mon in pe grene :

' So now pou hatz pi hert holle,17 hitte me bihov[e]s ;

Halde pe now pe hyje 18 hode 19 fat Arpur pe ragt,20
And kepe 21 py kanel 22 at pis kest,28 gif hit 24 kever 25 may.’
Gawrayn ful gryndelly 26 with greme 27 penne sayde,

' Wy presch on, pou pro 28 mon, pou pretez to longe,

I hope29 pat pi hert arje80 wyth pyn awen selven.’

' Forsope,’ quoth pat oper freke,81 ' so felly 82 pou spekez,

I wyl no lenger on lyte 88 lette 84 pin ernde 83

Rigte no we.’

penne tas 86 he hym strype 87 to stryke,

And frounses 88 bope lyppe and browe.

No mervayle paj hym 89 myslyke,
pat hoped of no rescowe.40

1 make ready

is did

29 suspect

2 man

1® speak

30 grows cowardly

3 flinch

11 whole

81 man

4 attends

18 high

32 rudely

5 aims

I9 hood

33 tarrying

6 lustily

20 gave (reached)

34 delay

7 gashes

21 guard

35 business

8 with a jerk

22 neck

36 takes

9 duly

23 blow

37 stride (firm position on his

1® shrank

24 the hood

38 wrinkles

li or

25 cover (the neck)

39 Gawain

12 either

26 roughly

40 rescue

is twisted

27 anger

14 rocky

28 fierce

ROMANCES

He lyftes lyjtly his lome,1 and let hit doun fayre,2
With fe barbe of fe bitte 8 bi fe bare nek ;

J?aj he homered 4 heterly,6 hurt hym no more,

Bot snyrt 6 hym on fat on syde, pat severed f e hyde ;

5 pe scharp 7 schrank 8 to fe flesche furg fe schyre 9 grece,10
pat fe schene 11 blod over his schulderes schot to fe erfe ;
And quen fe burne sez pe blode blenk 12 on fe snawe,

He sprit 13 forth spenne-fote,14 more fen a spere lenfe,
Hent16 heterly5 his helme, and on his hed cast,
io Schot 16 with his schulderez his fayre schelde under,

Braydez 17 out a bryjt sworde, and bremely 18 he spekez ;
Never syn fat he watz burne borne of his moder,

Watz he never in fis wo ride wyje 19 half so blyfe 20 :

' Blynne,21 burne, of fy bur,22 bede 23 me no mo ;
i s I haf a stroke in fis sted withoute stryf hent,24

And if fow rechez 25 me any mo, I redyly schal quyte,26
And gelde gederly 27 ajayn, and ferto je tryst,28

And foo 29 ;

Bot on stroke here me fallez,30
20 pe covenaunt schap 81 ryjt soo,

[Sikered] 82 in Arfurez hallez,

And ferfore hende now hoo 83 ! ’

The hafel 84 heldet 35 hym fro, and on his ax rested,

Sette fe schaft upon schore,36 and to fe scharp lened,

25 And loked to fe leude87 fat on fe launde38 jede,

How fat do^ty dredles dervely 89 fer stondez,

4 weapon

14 swift-foot (?)

27 promptly

2 full

15 grasped

28 make up your mind

8 blade

16 slipped

29 (?)

4 smote

17 draws

80 is due

5 swiftly

48 boldly

84 directed

6 wounded (?)

19 man

82 ratified

7 axe

20 glad

88 stop

8 pierced

21 stop

84 knight

9 bright

22 onslaught

85 turned away

10 grease (fleshy part of the neck)

28 attempt

86 earth

11 bright

24 accepted

37 man

12 shine

26 dealest (handest me out)

88 plain

18 started

26 requite, retaliate

89 bravely

SIR GAWAIN AND THE GREEN KNIGHT 65

Armed ful aglez 1 ; in hert hit hym lykez.

penn he melez muryly, wyth a much steven,2

And wyth a r[a]ykande 3 rurde 4 he to pe renk 6 sayde :

' Bolde burne,6 on ]>is bent 7 be not so gryndel 8 ;

No mon here unmanerly pe mysboden9 habbe,

Ne kyd,10 bot as covenaunde,11 at kyngez kort 12 schaped 13 ;

I hygt 14 pe a strok, and J>ou hit hatz ; halde pe wel payed ;

I relece )>e of he remnaunt, of rygtes alle oper ;

<^if I deliver 15 had bene, a boffet, paraunter,

I coupe wropeloker 16 haf waret,17 [and] to pe haf wrogt anger.
Fyrst I mansed 18 pe muryly, with a mynt 19 one,20
And rove 21 pe wyth no rof,22 sore 28 with rygt I pe profered,
For pe forwarde pat we fest 24 in pe fyrst nygt,

And pou trystyly pe trawpe and trwly me haldez,

A1 pe gayne pow me gef, as god mon schulde ;

)">at oper munt 25 for pe mome, mon,26 I pe profered,

)?ou kyssedes my clere 27 wyf, pe cossez 28 me ragtez,29
For bope two here 80 I pe bede bot two bare myntes,

Boute scape 31 ;

Trwe mon 32 trwe restore,

J?enne par mon 32 drede no wape 88 ;

At pe prid pou fayled pore,84
And perfor pat tappe 85 ta pe.86

For hit is my wede87 pat pou werez, pat ilke woven girdel,
Myn owen wyf hit pe weved, I wot wel forsope ;

Now know I wel py cosses, and py costes 88 als,89

1 fearless

14 promised

2" fair

2 great voice

16 nimble

28 kisses

3 rushing, loud

is more fiercely

29 gavest

4 sound

17 dealt

30 both of these two

5 knight

18 menaced

31 without injury

6 man

19 aimed blow

32 must

7 field

20 only

33 danger, injury

8 fierce, angry

24 cleaved

34 there

9 offered wrong

22 cut, blow

35 stroke

10 treated

23 wound

36 take to thyself

O agreed upon

24 pledged

37 garment

12 court

25 aimed blow

38 qualities

13 arranged

26 man

89 also

ROMANCES

And pe wowyng of my wyf, I wrogt it myselven;

I sende 1 hir to asay 2 pe, and, sothly me pynkkez,

On 3 pe fautlest 4 freke pat ever on fote gede 5 ;

As perle bi 6 pe quite 7 pese 8 is of prys more,

So is Gawayn, in god fayth, bi oper gay knygtez.

Bot here yow lakked a lyttel, syr, and lewte9 yow wonted,10
Bot pat watz for no wylyde 11 werke, ne wowyng nauper,
Bot for ge lufud your lyf, — pe lasse I yow blame.’

)?at oper stif 12 mon in study stod a gret whyle ;

So agreved for greme 13 he gryed 14 withinne,

Alle pe blode of his brest blende 15 in his face,

]?at al he schrank for schome, pat 16 pe schalk talked.
pe forme 17 worde upon folde 18 pat pe freke meled :

' Corsed worth 19 cowarddyse and covetyse bope 1
In yow is vylany and vyse, pat vertue disstryez.’

J>enne he kagt to 20 pe knot, and pe kest 21 lawsez,22
Brayde 23 bropely 24 pe belt to pe bume selven :

' Lo ! per pe falssyng,25 foule mot hit falle ! 26
For care 27 of py knokke, cowardyse me tagt
To acorde me with covetyse, my kynde 28 to forsake,

]?at is larges 29 and lewte, pat longez to 80 knygtez.

Now am I fawty,31 and falce, and ferde32 haf been ever;

Of trecherye and untrawpe bope bityde 33 sorge 34

And care !

I biknowe yow,35 knygt, here stylle,
Al fawty is my fare 36 ;

1 sent

2 try, tempt

3 one

4 the most faultless

s went (OE. code)

6 compared with

7 white

* peas

9 loyalty

10 lacked

11 wily, intriguing

12 brave

18 vexation, anger

14 was agitated

15 blent, mingled

16 while

17 first

18 earth
IS be

20 seized hold of

21 twist

22 looses
28 threw
24 angrily

25 falsity

28 may foul befall it

27 fear

28 nature

29 generosity

30 befits

31 faulty

32 afeared

33 come

34 sorrow

33 confess to you
36 conduct

SIR GAWAIN AND THE GREEN KNIGHT 67

Letez me overtake 1 your wylle,

And efte 2 * I schal beware.’

Thenn loje 8 pat oper leude, and luflyly 4 5 sayde,

' I halde hit hardily 6 hole,6 ]>e harme }>at I hade ;
pou art confessed so clene, beknowen of py mysses,7 5

And hatz pe penaunce apert,8 of9 pe poynt of myn egge,10
I halde pe polysed 11 of pat plyjt,12 * and pured 18 as clene,

As 14 ]>ou hadez never forfeted 15 sypen pou watz fyrst borne.

And I gif pe, syr, }>e gurdel pat is golde hemmed ;

For hit is grene as my goune, syr Gawayn, ge maye 10

penk upon pis ilke prepe,16 per 17 pou forth pryngez 19
Among prynces of prys, and 19 pis a pure token
Of pe chaunce 20 of pe grene chapel, at 21 chevalrous knygtez ;

And ge schal in ]>is nwe ger agayn 22 to my wonez,28

And we schyn 24 revel pe remnaunt of pis ryche fest, 1 5

Ful bene.’ 25

per laped 26 hym fast 27 pe lorde,
And sayde : 'With my wyf, I wene,
We schal yow wel acorde,28
pat watz your enmy kene.’

' Nay, forsope,’ quoth pe segge,29 and sesed 80 hys helme,
And hatz hit of 81 hendely,82 and pe hapel 88 ponkkez :

' I haf sojomed sadly, sele 84 yow bytyde,

And He gelde 85 hit gow gare,86 pat garkkez 87 al menskes 88 !

1 understand

2 afterwards

8 laughed

4 courteously

5 assuredly

6 cured

" with avowal made of thy sins

8 openly, manifestly

9 from

19 (edge of) axe

n absolved

12 offense

is purged

14 as if

15 sinned

46 reproof, rebuke
l”, when

is dost crowd, press

19 and keep

20 adventure

21 on the part of

22 come again

23 dwelling

24 shall

2" urgently

28 bring into friendly relations

29 knight

30 seized
•n off

25 genially

26 invited

32 courteously
88 warrior

84 blessing, prosperity

85 may he reward you for it
36 soon

87 bestows

88 honors

ROMANCES

And comaundez1 me to pat cortays, your comlych 2 fere,*

Bope pat on and pat oper, myn honoured ladyez,

pat pus hor knyjt wyth hor kest 4 han koyntly 5 bigyled.

Bot hit is no ferly,8 pag a foie madde,'

5 And purj wyles of wymmen be wonen to sorge ;

For so watz Adam in erde 8 with one bygyled,

And Salamon with fele sere,9 and Samson eftsonez,10
Dalyda11 dalt12 hym hys wyrde,13 and Davyth perafter
Watz blended14 with Barsabe,13 pat much bale 16 poled.17
io Now pese were wrathed 18 wyth her wyles, hit were a wynne 19 huge
To luf horn wel, and leve 20 hem not — a leude pat coupe 21 —

For pes wer forne 22 pe freest 28 pat folded alle pe sele,

Exellently of alle pyse oper 24 under hevenryche

pat mused 26 ;

15 And alle pay were biwyled,26

With wymmen pat pay used 27 ;
paj I be now bigyled,

Me pink me burde28 be excused.’

' Bot your gordel,’ quoth Gawayn — ' God yow forjelde 29 ! —

20 pat wyl I welde 80 wyth good wylle, not for pe wynne 81 golde,
Ne pe saynt,82 ne pe sylk, ne pe syde38 pendaundes,84
For wele,35 ne for worchyp, ne for pe wlonk 36 werkkez,

Bot in syngne of my surfet87 I schal se hit ofte;

When I ride in renoun, remorde 38 to myselven
25 pe faut and pe fayntyse89 of pe flesche crabbed,40

1 commend

2 comely

3 mate

4 stratagem

5 cunningly
e wonder

7 grew mad

8 on earth

9 many different ones

10 moreover, likewise

11 Delilah

12 dealt

18 fate, doom
14 mingled, wedded

15 Bathsheba

16 grief

17 suffered

18 vexed
49 joy

20 believe

21 were a man but able

22 of old

23 noblest

24 beyond (excelling) all others

25 indulged their fancies (?)

26 beguiled

27 dealt with

28 it is fitting for me

29 requite

30 keep in possession
34 goodly (?)

32 samite

33 long

34 pendants

35 good fortune
38 beautiful

8‘ fault, sin

38 I shall blame

39 faintness, weakness

40 perverse (?)

SIR GAWAIN AND THE GREEN KNIGHT 69

How tender 1 hit is to entyse 2 teches 8 of fylpe 4 ;

And pus, quen 6 pryde schal me pryk, for prowes of armes,
pe loke to 6 pis luf 7 lace schal lepe 8 my hert.

Bot on 9 I wolde yow pray, displeses 10 yow never ;

Syn 11 ge be lorde of the gonder londe, per I haf lent 12 inne
Wyth yow wyth worschyp — pe Wy ge 18 hit yow gelde
pat uphaldez pe hevert, and on hyg 14 sittez ! —

How norne 15 ge yowre rygt nome, and penne no more ? ’

' pat schal I telle pe trwly,’ quoth pat oper penne,

' Bernlak de Hautdesert I hat16 in pis londe,
purg mygt of Morgne la Faye (pat in my hous lenges) 17
And koyntyse 18 of clergye 19 bi craftes wel lerned,
pe maystres of Merlyn mony hatz 20 taken ;

For ho hatz dalt drwry 21 ful dere sum tyme

With pat conable 22 klerk pat knowes alle your knygtez

At hame ;

Morgne pe goddes,
perfore hit is hir name ;

Weldez 28 non so hyge hawtesse,24
pat ho ne con make ful tame.25

Ho wayned 26 me upon pis wyse to your Wynne 27 halle,

For to assay pe surquidre,28 gif hit soth were,

pat rennes29 of pe grete renoun of pe Rounde Table;

Ho wayned me, pis wonder, your wyttez to reve,80
For to haf greved Gaynour,81 and gart hir to dyge,82
With gopnyng 88 of pat ilke gomen,84 pat gostlych speked,
With his hede in his honde, bifore pe hyge table.

1 frail, weak

2 acquire, catch

8 spots, stains, blemishes
4 foulness, sin
6 when

6 at

7 dear, precious

8 soften

9 one thing

1° if it displease
n since
12 dwelt

18 Being

14 high

15 say

is am called
it dwells

18 (her) cunning

19 learning

20 MS. ho

21 carried on amours

22 competent
28 possesses

24 dignity, power

28 submissive
26 sent
2" goodly (?)

28 pride

29 runs, is told

80 take away

81 Guinevere

82 die
88 fear

84 laughing-stock

7 o ROMANCES

pat is ho fat is at home, )>e auncian 1 lady ;

Ho is even fyn aunt, Arfurez half suster,
peduches dorter of Tyntagelle,2 * fat dere8 Uter4 * after
Hade Arf ur upon,® fat af el 6 is nowfe.7
5 perfore I efe 8 fe, hafel, to com to fyn aunt,

Make myry in my hous, my meny fe lovies,

And I wol9 fe as wel, wyje, bi my faythe,

As any gome under God, for fy grete traufe.’

And he nikked hym naye,10 he nolde bi no wayes.
io pay acolen 11 and kyssen, [bikennen] ayfer ofer 12
To fe Pry nee of Paradise, and parten ryjt fere,

On coolde 18 ;

Gawayn on blonk 14 ful bene,

To fe kyngez burj 15 buskez 16 bolde,
iS And fe knygt in fe enker17 grene,

Whiderwarde so ever he wolde.

THOMAS OF ERCELDOUNE

There was a Thomas Rimor (Rymour) of Erceldoune (modern Earlston) in
the thirteenth century, a Scotchman who obtained in the following century the
reputation of a prophet. He cannot, however, have been the author of our
romance, which must have been composed after 1401, and is assigned by the
New English Dictionary to about 1425. The romance consists of three cantos,
of which the first is devoted to the fairy tale here following, and the second
and third to prophecies, or what purport to be such. Child thought that the
prophecies were by an inferior hand, but Murray believes the whole romance
to have been the work of a single poet. Curiously enough, the story is told
partly in the first person, and partly in the third.

A ballad, founded on the romance (see Murray’s edition, pp. lii, liii), is
No. 37 of Child’s collection, of which the first stanza runs in one version :

True Thomas lay oer yond grassy bank,

And he beheld a ladie gay,

A ladie that was brisk and bold,

Come riding oer the fernie brae.

1 ancient

2 the daughter of the Duch¬

ess of Tintagel
8 noble

4 Uther

6 by

6 noble
1 now
8 ask, bid
8 wish

1° refused him
u embrace

12 commend each the othei

13 in the open (?)

14 steed {lit. white steed)

15 fortress
18 hastens

17 dark (inky) green

THOMAS OF ERCELDOUNE

Thomas still retains his power over the imaginations of men. Professor
Dixon, of the University of Glasgow, has written a little play, called Thomas
the Rhymer (Glasgow, 191 1), and Kipling’s Last Rhyme of True Thomas (1893)
is one of his most spirited poems.

The scene of the poem is best described by Sir James Murray (pp. 1, li of
his edition) : ' Eildon Tree, referred to in the Romance, and connected tradi¬
tionally with Thomas’s prophecies, stood on the declivity of the eastern of the
three Eildon Hills. ... Its site is believed to be indicated by the Eildon Stone ,
" a rugged boulder of whinstone ” standing on the edge of the road from
Melrose to St Boswell’s, about a mile south-east from the former town, and on
the ridge of a spur of the hill. " The view from this point,” says a correspon¬
dent, " is unsurpassed ; on the north you have the vale of Leader almost up
to Earlston, and Cowdenknowes with its ' Black Hill ’ rising abruptly from
the bed of the stream ; while downward to Tweed the undulating expanse of
woody bank is so beautiful, that in the time of the ' bonny broom,’ I am often
tempted to bend my steps to the spot, and ' lie and watch the sight,’ from a
spot once 'underneath the Eildon Tree.’ In the close vicinity is the 'Bogle
Burn,’ a stream which rises on the slope of the Eastern Eildon, and flows down
a deep glen into the Tweed a little to the north of Newtown St Boswell’s.” . . .
About half a mile to the west of the Eildon Stone, and on the slope of the
same hill, we find the " Huntlee bankis ” of the old romance. The spot lies a
little above the North British Railway, at the point where it is crossed by the
road to St Boswell’s already referred to, about a quarter of a mile after leaving
Melrose Station. The field next the road and railway at this point (No. 2405
on the Ordnance Map) is called Monks' Meadow ; and higher up the hill above
this are two fields (Nos. 2548 and 2408) which have preserved the name of
Huntlie Brae.’

The ordnance map in question is that of the Parish of Melrose (May, 1861),
Sheet VIII. 5. The road leaves the market-place, and leads to Oakendean
House ; it touches a corner of 2405 just after it crosses the railway and strikes
a little southeast. No. 2408 is directly south of 2405, about 120 yards from the
road, by way of a row of trees. No. 2548 is directly south of 2408, and about
1 50 yards further. Directly east of 2548 is Corse Rig (2410), with a plantation
of trees.

Sir Walter Scott’s enthusiasm for the story is best shown by a passage or
two from Basil Hall’s journal for Dec. 30, 1824, as quoted in Lockhart’s life
of Scott : ' This morning Major Stisted, my brother, and I, accompanied Sir
Walter Scott on a walk over his grounds, a distance of five or six miles. . . .
Occasionally he repeated snatches of songs, sometimes a whole ballad, and at
other times he planted his staff in the ground and related some tale to us,
which, though not in verse, came like a stream of poetry from his lips. Thus,
about the middle of our walk, we had first to cross, and then to wind down the
banks of the Huntly Burn, the scene of old Thomas the Rhymer’s interview
with the Queen of the Fairies. Before entering this little glen, he detained us
on the heath above till he had related the whole of that romantic story, so that

ROMANCES

by the time we descended the path, our imaginations were so worked upon by
the wild nature of the fiction, and still more by the animation of the narrator,
that we felt ourselves treading upon classical ground ; and though the day was
cold, the path muddy and scarcely passable, owing to the late floods, and the
trees all bare, yet I do not remember ever to have seen any place so interest¬
ing as the skill of this mighty magician had rendered this narrow ravine,
which in any other company would have seemed quite insignificant. ... In the
evening, . . . Sir Walter also read us, with the utmost delight, . . . the famous
poem on Thomas the Rhymer’s adventure with the Queen of the Fairies ; but
I am at a loss to say which was the most interesting, or even I will say poeti¬
cal — his conversational account of it to us to-day on the very spot, Huntly
Burn, or the highly characteristic ballad which he read to us in the evening.’
On Scott’s transfer of his supposititious ' Rhymer’s Glen ’ to the Abbotsford
estate, see Murray’s edition, p. lii.

The complete romance exists in four manuscripts, of which the oldest and
best, the Thornton MS. of Lincoln Cathedral, dates from 1430-1440. All were
admirably edited by Dr. Murray in 1875 f°r the Early English Text Society
(No. 61). Another edition, with a reconstructed text, is that by Professor
Brandi (Berlin, 1880), with copious variants. The present text reposes upon
the Thornton manuscript, as printed by Murray, but the spelling has been
somewhat normalized, and an attempt has been made to eliminate certain
manifest errors ; this, therefore, is a restored text, and can not be depended
upon for the exact manuscript readings. The editions of Murray and Brandi
can be relied upon for detailed information upon all matters of interest.

Als I me 1 went )>is endres 2 day,

Full fast in mynd makand my mone,
In a mery mornyng of May,

By Huntlee bankes myself allone,

I herd ]>e jay and ]>e ]>rostell 8 ;

The mavys 4 menyde hir 6 in hir song ;
J>e wodewale 6 beryde 7 als 8 a bell,

That all )>e wode abowt me rong.

Allone in longyng als I lay,

Undyrnethe a semely tree,

Saw I whare a lady gay

Came ridand over a lufly lee.9

1 by myself

2 other

8 throstle
4 song-thrush

5 bemoaned herself

6 wood-lark (Murray) ; according to
others, the yaffle, or green wood¬
pecker

7 rang out

8 as, like

9 lea, meadow

THOMAS OF ERCELDOUNE

If I solde sytt to Domesday,

With my tonge to wrobbe and wrye,1
Certanely )>at lady gay

Never bese scho discryved 2 for mee.

Hir palfray was a dappill-gray —

Swylk one ne sagh 3 I never none.

Als dose )>e sonne on someres day,
pat faire lady hirself scho schone.

Hir selle4 it was of roell bone5 —
Semely was ]>at syght to see ! —
Stefly sett with precyous stone,

And compast all with crapotee,6

With stones of Oryent, grete plente.

Hir hare abowt hir hede it hang.

Scho rade over \at lufly lee ;

A 7 whyl scho blew, anojrer scho sang.

Hir garthes 8 of nobyll sylk \ay were,
The bukylls were of berel 9 stone ;

Hir steraps were of crystal clere,

And all with perel 10 over bygone.11

Hir payetrel 12 was of irale 13 fyne ;

Hir cropour was of orphare14;

Hir brydill was of golde fyne —

One aythir syde hang 15 bellys three.

The meaning of these two
verbs is very doubtful
shall she be described
saw
saddle

ivory (see NED. s.v. ruel-
bone)

8 toadstone (cf. Shakespeare,
A.Y.L. 2. i. 13)

7 one

8 girths

9 beryl
10 pearl

H covered

12 horse’s breastplate

13 (i)

14 orphrey, rich embroid¬

ery (esp. of gold)

15 hung

ROMANCES

Scho led thre grewehundis 1 in a lesse,2
And seven raches 3 by hir ron ;

Scho bare an horn abowt hir halse,4
And undir hir belt full many a flon.5

5 Thomas lay and saw pat syght,

Undirnethe ane semely tree.

He sayd : ' <^on 6 es Mary, most of myght,
pat bare J>at Child ]>at dyede for mee.

' Bot-if 7 I speke with jon lady bryght,
io I hope 8 myn herte will bryst9 in three;

Now sail I go with all my myght,

Hir for to mete at Eldoun tree.’

Thomas rathely 10 up he rase,

And ran over pat mountayn hye ;
15 Gyff 11 it be als |>e story says,

He hir mette at Eldon tree.

He knelyde down appon his knee,
Undirnethe )>at grenwode spray :

' Lufly lady, rewe 12 on me,

20 Qwene of heven, als 13 ]>ou wel may ! ’

Than spake pat lady milde of thoght :

' Thomas, late swylke wordes be !
Qwene of heven ne am I noght,

For I tuke 14 never so hegh degre ;

25 Bote I am of anoj>er countree,

If 13 I be payreld 16 most of pryse.17
I ryde aftyr this wylde fee 18 ;

My raches rynnys at my devyse.19 ’

1 greyhounds 6 y0n

2 leash 1 unless

8 hunting-dogs (hounds that follow by 8 believe

the scent, as the greyhound does 9 burst

by sight ; so Murray) 10 quickly

4 neck u if

8 arrow 12 have pity

13 as

14 took

15 even though

16 appareled

17 price

18 game, animals
1® command, will

THOMAS OF ERCELDOUNE

* If fou be pareld most of pryse,

And rydis here in thy foly,

Of lufe, lady, als ]>ou erte wyse,1
}?ou gyffe me leve to lye the by 1 ’

Scho sayde : ' pou man, fat ware foly. 5

I praye f e, Thomas, late me bee ;

For I saye fe full sekirly,2

pat synn wolde fordoo 3 all my beaute.’

' Lufly lady, rewe on mee,

And I will evermore with the duelle ; 10

Here my trouth I plyght to the,

Whethir fou will in heven or helle.’

' Man of molde, fou will me merre,4
Bot jit fou sail hafe all thy will ;

Bot trowe fou wele, fou chevys 5 fe werre,6 1 5

For alle my beaute fou will spyll.’

Down pan lyghte fat lady bryght,

Undirnethe fat grenewode spray ;

And, als fe story tellis full ryght,

Seven sythis 7 by hir he lay. 20

Scho sayd : ' Man, the lykes thy play ;

What byrd 8 in boure 9 may dele 10 with the ?

Thou merrys me all fis longe day ;

I pray the, Thomas, late me bee ! ’

Thomas stod up in fat stede,11 25

And he byheld fat lady gay :

Hir hare it hang all over hir hede,

Hir eghne semede out, fat were so gray,

are pronounced as if wice and price )
2 surely
8 destroy

1 wise (Murray says that wise and pryse

4 mar

5 succeedest, thrives

6 worse

7 times

8 woman

9 bower
10 deal

11 stead, place

76 ROMANCES

And all the rich clofyng was away,
pat he byfore saw in pat stede ;
Hir a 1 schanke 2 blake, hir ofer gray,
And all hir body lyke fe lede.3

pan said Thomas : ' Allas, alias !

In fayth, fis es a dullfull 4 syght !

How art fou fadyd in fe face,

pat schan byfore als fe sonne so bryght ! 1

Sche sayd : ' Thomas, take leve at sonne and mone,
And als 5 at lefe fat grewes on tre'e ;

This twelmonth sail fou with me gone,6
And medill-erthe 7 sail fou not see.’

' Allas,’ he sayd, ' and wa es mee !

I trowe my dedis wyll wirk me care.

My saule, Jesu, byteche 8 I the,

Whedirsomever my banes sail fare.’

Scho ledde hym in at Eldone Hill,
Undimethe a derne9 lee,

Whare it was dirk als mydnyght myrk,10
And ever fe water till his knee.

The montenans 11 of dayes three,

He herd bot swoghyng12 of fe flode ;
At fe laste he sayd : ' Full wa 13 es mee !
Almast I dye for fawte 14 of fode.’

1 one

2 leg

3 lead

4 doleful

5 also

6 go

7 middle earth

8 commit

9 secret

10 murk, murky

11 amount, period

12 roaring
18 woe

44 lack

9. Sche sayd. These two words are perhaps extra-metrical, and not to be read.

THOMAS OF ERCELDOUNE

Scho lede hym intill a faire herbere,1
Whare frute was growand gret plentee ;

Pere and appill both rype fay were,

The date, and als the damasee 2 ;

pe fygge, and also f e wyneberye 8 ;

The nyghtgales byggande 4 on fair nest,
pe papejoyes 5 fast abowt gan 6 flye,

And throstylls sang — wolde hafe no rest.

He pressede to pull frute with his hand,

Als man 7 for fude 8 fat was nere faynt.

Scho sayd : ' Thomas, fou late fam stand,

Or ells fe fende the will atteynt.

If fou it plokk, sothely to say,

Thi saule gose to fe fyr of helle ;

It commes never owte or9 Domesday,

Bot fer in payne ay for to duelle.

Thomas, sothely I the hyght 10 :

Come lygg thyn hede down on my knee,

And fou sail se fe fayrest syght
pat ever saw man of thi con tree.’

He did in hye 11 als scho hym badde :

Appon hir knee his hede he layd,

For hir to paye 12 he was full glade ;

And fan fat lady to him sayd :

' Seese fou now jon faire way,

pat lygges over jon hegh mountayn ?

,7)one es fe waye to heven for ay,

When synfull sawles are passede fer payn.

1 garden, orchard 6 parrots 9 ere

2 damson 6 did 10 bid

^ grape 1 a man ‘ ^ haste

4 dwelling 8 food 12 please

78 ROMANCES

Seese fou now gon ofer way,

pat lygges lawe 1 bynethe gon ryse 1 ?

^on es fe way, fe sothe to say,

Unto fe joye of Paradyse.

5 Seese fou gitt gon thirde way,

pat ligges undir gon grene playn ?

^one es fe way, with tene 3 and tray 4
Whare synfull saulis suffirris fair payn.

Bot seese fou now gone ferthe way,

10 pat lygges over gon depe delle ?

^one es fe way — so waylaway 1 —

Unto fe birnand fyr of helle.

Seese fou gitt gone faire castell,
pat standis over gon heghe hill ?

*5 Of towne and towre it beris fe bell5;

In erthe es none lyke fertill.

Forsothe, Thomas, gone es myn awen
And fe kynges 6 of this countree ;

Bot me ware lever7 be hanged and drawen,

20 Or 8 fat he wyste f ou laye by me.

When fou commes to gone castell gay,

I pray fe curtase man to bee ;

And whatso any man to fe say,

Luke fou answere none bot mee.

25 My lorde es servede at ylk 9 a messe10

With thritty knyghtis faire and free ;

I sail say, syttand at the desse,11
I tuke thi speche bygonde the see.’

1 low 4 affliction 7 I had rather

2 spray 5 excels 8 ere

8 grief 6 king’s 2 each

10 course

11 dais

THOMAS OF ERCELDOUNE

Thomas still als stane he stude,

And byheld fat lady gay ;

Scho was agayn als 1 faire and gude,

And also 1 ryche on hir palfray ;

Hir grewehundis fillide 2 with dere blode, 5

Hir raches couplede, by my fay 8 ;

Scho blew hir horn with mayn 4 and mode,5
And to fe castell scho tuke fe way.

Into ]>e hall sothely scho went ;

Thomas foloued at hir hand. io

Than ladyes come, both faire and gent,6
With curtasye to hir kneland.

Harpe and fethill 7 both fay fand,

}?e getem,8 and also fe sawtrye,9

Lute and rybybe 10 bothe gangand, 15

And all manere of mynstralsye.

J?e moste mervelle fat Thomas thoghte
When fat he stode appon fe flore —

Fefty hertis in were broghte,

}?at were bothe grete and store.11 20

Raches lay lapand in fe blode ;

Cokes come with dryssyng-knyfe 12 ;

Thay bryttened 18 f e dere als 14 fey were wode 15 ;

Revell amanges fam was full ryfe.

Knyghtis dawnsede by three and three ; 25

There was revell, gamen, and playe ;

Lufly ladyes faire and free
Satt and sang in riche araye.

1 as

2 (were) filled

3 faith

t might

S spirit

3 well bred

7 fiddle

8 gittern (a kind of guitar)

9 psaltery (a kind of zither)

I3 rebeck (a three-stringed fiddle)

11 mighty

12 dressing-knife
18 cut up

14 as if

15 mad

ROMANCES

Thomas duellide in that solace
More 1 ]>an I jow saye, parde,2
Till on a day — so hafe I grace ! —

My lufly lady sayd to mee :

' Buske 3 the, Thomas, )>e buse 4 agayn,

For here fou may no lengar be ;

Hye8 the faste with myght and mayn ;

I sail the bryng till Eldone tree.’

Thomas sayd ]?an with hevy chere :

' Lufly lady, now late me bee,

For certaynly I hafe bene here

Noght hot f>e space of dayes three.’

' Forsothe, Thomas, als I f>e tell,

]?ou hase bene here thre jere and more,
And langer here ]tou may noght duell ;

The skyll 6 I sail )>e tell wharefore :

To-morne of helle }>e foule fende
Amang this folk will feche his fee ;

And ]’0u art mekill 7 man and hende 8 —

I trow full wele he wil chese 9 the.

For all }>e gold ]>at ever may bee
Fro hethyn10 unto ]>e worldis ende,

]?ou bese 11 never betrayed for mee ;
J>erefore with me I rede 12 thou wende.’

Scho broght hym agayn to Eldone tree,
Undirnethe pat grenewode spray. —

In Huntlee bankes es mery to bee,

Whare fowles synges both nyght and day.

i longer

3 in truth (Fr. par Dieu )
8 prepare

4 behooves (to return)

6 haste

6 reason

7 large, robust

8 courtly

9 choose

10 hence

11 shalt be

12 advise

AMIS AND AMILOUN

8 1

AMIS AND AMILOUN

Amis and Amiloun (late thirteenth century) is ultimately derived from a
Greek or Oriental source. The story represents the mediaeval notion of an
ideal friendship, capable of attaining supreme heights of devotion. Amiloun
risks his life to save the honor of Amis by maintaining his friend’s perjured
word in a trial by combat, and afterwards suffers for his generosity by becom¬
ing a leper. As an outcast and beggar, with only one young page as com¬
panion, he is at length recognized by Amis, and lovingly cared for and
comforted. When an angel declares to Amis in a dream that only by means
of the blood of his two children can Amiloun be cured, he meets even this
demand upon his friendship and gratitude. Then a miracle takes place. Each
friend has done what the other's need called for, and their sins are now fully
atoned for by self-sacrifice. The two slaughtered children are found alive,
happily playing together, and the story ends in cheer.

There are versions in Old French, Latin, Old Norse, and Celtic. The
English romance is closely related to an Anglo-Norman poem printed by
Kolbing, who has elaborately edited the English text ( Altenglische Bibliothek,
Vol. 2, Heilbronn, 1884), closely following the Auchinleck manuscript. The
language is Northeast Midland. For a good outline, see Ten Brink, Early
Eng. Lit., pp. 250-2.

Our extract covers lines 2245-2424.

pan })Oujt pe douk,1 wi)>outen lesing,2
For to slen8 his childer so jing4
It were a dedli sinne ;

And pan pougt he, bi heven 5 King,
His broper out of sorwe bring,6
For pat nold he noujt blinne.7
So it bifel on Cristes nijt,

Swiche time as Jesu, ful of mijt,

Was bom to save mankinne,8
To chirche to wende, al pat per wes,9
pai di^ten 10 hem, wipouten les,11
Wip joie and worldes winne.12

1 duke

2 deception
8 slay

4 young

5 heaven’s

(his endeavors)

8 MS. -kunne

2 who were there

6 to bring

7 to that end would he not cease

1° prepared

11 to tell the truth

12 delight

82 ROMANCES

pan 1 fai were redi for to fare,2 3
J?e douke bad al fat fer ware,

To chirche fai schuld wende,
Litel and michel, lasse and mare,8
5 pat non bileft 4 in chaumber are,5

As fai wald 6 ben his frende 7 ;
And seyd he wald himselve fat nigt
Kepe 8 his brof er, fat gentil knijt,
pat was so god and kende.9

io pan was fer non fat durst say nay :

To chirche fai went in her 10 way,
At hom bileft fe 11 hende.12

pe douke wel 18 fast gan aspie 14
]?e kays of fe noricerie,13
!S Erf an 16 fai schuld gon ;

And priveliche 17 he cast his eije,18
And aparceived ful witterlye 19
Where fat fai hadde hem don.20
And when fai were to chirche went,21
20 ]?an Sir Amis, verrament,22

Was bileft al on.28
He tok a candel fair and brijt,

And to fe kays he went ful rigt,

And tok hem oway ichon.24

Alon himself, wifouten mo,25
Into fe chaumber he gan to go,
J>er fat his childer were,

1 when

2 go

3 greater

4 left

6 should be ; MS. hare

6 would

" friends

8 watch over

9 kind

10 their
n MS. J>o

12 they left the noble one

13 very

14 began to look for
45 nursery

16 before
1" secretly
is eye

20
21
22

24
26

clearly
put them
gone
truly
alone
each one
more, others

AMIS AND AMILOUN

And biheld hem hope to,1
Hou fair pai lay togider po,

And slepe bope yfere 2 ;
pan seyd himselve : ' Bi Seyn Jon,

It were gret rewe]>e 3 gou to slon,
pat God hap bougt so dere ! ’

His kniif he had drawen ]>at tide 4 ;

For sorwe he sleynt5 oway biside,

And wepe wip reweful 6 chere.7

pan he hadde wopen 8 per he stode,

Anon he turned ogain his mode,9
And sayd wipouten delay :

' Mi broper was so kinde and gode,

Wip grimly 10 wounde he schad 11 his blod
For mi love opon a day ;

Whi schuld Y pan mi childer spare,

To bring mi broper out of care ?

O, certesj12 ’ he sayd, ' nay !

To help mi broper now at pis nede,

God graunt me per to wele 13 to spede,14
And Mari, pat best may 15 ! ’

No lenger stint 16 he no stode,17
Bot hent 18 his kniif wip dreri mode,

And tok his children po ;

For he nold nougt spille her 19 blode,

Over a bacine 20 fair and gode
Her 19 protes he schar 21 atuo.22

4 time
6 slunk
6 pitiful

1 both two, both

2 together

3 pity

9 changed his mind again

10 fearful
n shed
12 truly

18 well-being

14 advance

15 can (help)

46 forbore

17 nor stood still

18 seized

19 their

20 basin (OF. baciri)

21 shore, cut

22 in two, asunder

7 countenance

8 wept

ROMANCES

And when he hadde hem boj>e slain,

He laid hem in her bed ogain,

— No wonder pei 1 him wer2 wo ! —
And hilde 3 hem, pat no wigt 4 schuld se ;
S As no man hadde at5 hem be,6

Out of chaumber he gan go.

And when he was out of chaumber gon,
)">e dore he steked 7 stille anon
As fast as it was biforn ;

io ]?e kays he hidde under a ston,

And ]>ougt |>ai schuld wene 8 ichon
}?at )>ai hadde ben forlorn.9
To his broker he went him ]ian,

And seyd to pat careful 10 man,

1 5 Swiche time as God was born :

' Ich have ]>e broujt mi childer 11 blod ;
Ich hope it schal do }>e gode,

As pe angel seyd biforn.’

' Broker,’ Sir Amiloun gan to say,

20 ' Hastow 12 slayn ]>ine children tuay 18 ?

Allas, whi de[de]stow 14 so ? ’

He wepe and seyd : ' Waileway !

Ich had lever 15 til Domesday 16
Have lived in care and wo ! ’

25 Jtan seyd Sir Amis : ' Be now stille ;

Jesu, when it is his wille,

May sende me childer mo.17
For me 18 of blis }>ou art al bare 19 ;

Ywis, mi liif wil Y nougt spare
3° To help )>e now perfro.20 ’

1 though, if

8 suppose

15 rather

2 were

9 lost

16 Doomsday

3 concealed

10 full of care, sad

17 more

4 nobody

11 children’s

18 on my account

5 with

12 hast thou

19 deprived of

6 been

13 two

20 out of thy condition

7 fastened

14 didst thou

AMIS AND AMILOUN

He tok )>at blode, fat was so brigt,

And alied 1 fat gentil knigt,

J>at er 2 was hende 8 in hale 4 ;

And sef fen 5 in a bed him digt,6
And wreige 7 him wel warm, apligt,8
Wif clofes riche and fale.9
' Brofer,’ he seyd, ' ly now stille,

And falle on slepe furch Codes wille,

As f e angel told in tale 10 ;

And Ich hope wele, wifouten lesing,

Jesu, fat is heven King,

Schal bote 11 f e of f i bale.12 ’

Sir Amis lete 18 him ly 14 alon,

And into his chapel he went anon,

In gest 16 as ge may here ;

And for his childer fat he hadde slon
To God of heven he made his mon,16
And preyd wif rewely 17 chere
[He] schuld save him fram schame fat day,
And Mari, his moder, fat best may,
pat was him leve 18 and dere.

And Jesu Crist, in fat stede,19
Ful wele he herd fat knigtes bede,20
And graunt 21 him his praiere.

A morwe,22 as tite 23 as it was day,
pe levedi com horn, al wif play,24
Wif knigtes ten and five.

1 anointed

9 many

17 piteous

2 formerly

10 his message

18 dear, precious

3 courteous

n cure

19 in that situation

4 hall

12 suffering

20 prayer

5 afterwards

18 left

21 granted

® arranged

u to lie, lying

22 on the morrow

" covered

15 the story

28 soon

3 in truth

i® moan

24 in merry mood

86 ROMANCES

pa\ soujt )»e kays per 1 }>ai lay ;

pa\ founde hem nougt — pai were oway ;

Wei wo was hem o live.2
pe douk bad al pat per wes
5 )?ai schuld hold hem stille in pes,3

And stint 4 of her strive 5 ;

And seyd he hadde jie keys nome 6 ;
Schuld no man in J>e chaumber come
Bot himself and his wive.7

io Anon he tok his levedi pan,

And seyd to hir : ' Leve leman,

Be blipe and glad of mode ;

For, bi him fat [us warld wan,8
Bope mi childer Ich have slan,9
15 pat were so hende10 and gode;

For me ]x>ugt in mi sweven 11
pat an angel com fram heven,

And seyd me, Jmrch her blode 12
Mi broker schuld passe out of his wo ;

20 perfore Y sloug hem bo]>e to,

To hele Rat frely fode.13 ’

pan was J>e levedi ferly wo,14
And seige 15 hir lord was al so ;

Sche comfort 16 him ful gare.17
25 ' O lef 18 liif,’ sche seyd J>o,

' God may sende ous 19 childer mo,

Of hem have J>ou no care ;

<^if it ware at min hert rote,20
For to bring j>i broker bote 21
3° My lyf Y wold not spare.

1 where

8 won

15 saw

2 woeful, indeed, were they in life

9 slain

16 comforted

3 peace

10 gentle

17 readily, soon

4 cease

11 dream

48 dear

5 effort

12 by means of their blood

49 us

6 taken

18 noble man

20 my heart’s root

7 wife

14 exceedingly sorrowful

24 remedy

AMIS AND AMILOUN 8 7

For no man shal oure children see,

To-morow shal |>ey beryed be
Rijt as J>ey faire 1 ded ware.’

A1 ]>us ]^e lady faire and bryjt
Comfort hur lord with al hur myjt,

As je mow 2 understonde ;

And seth 3 ]>ey went bo]> ful ryjt
To Sir Amylion, pat gentyl knyjt,

]?at ere 4 was free 5 to fonde.8
And whan Sir Amylion wakyd J>oo,

Al his fowlehed 7 was agoo,8

purch grace of Goddes sonde 9 ;

And )>an was he as feire a man
As ever he was jet or ]>an,10
Sej) he was born in londe.

]?an were al bli}> :

Her11 joy cou)> no man kyth,12
And ponked God hat day.

And han, as je mow listen and lyth,18
To a chamber hey went swyj>,14
J>ere he children lay ;

And, without wemme 10 and wound,

Al hool 16 and sound he children found,

And layen togeder and play.

For joye hey wept here hey stood,

And honked God with myld mood ;

Her care was <il away.

1 naturally 7 disease 18 hearken

2 mUst 8 gone 14 quickly

8 afterwards 9 messenger 15 blemish

4 formerly, before 10 formerly or then 16 whole

6 noble 11 their

8 to make trial of ; in trial 12 declare

ROMANCES

SIR ORFEO

Sir Orfeo (about 1320) is a classical fable metamorphosed into a fairy talcs,
told in the manner of a Breton lay. Orpheus, like the banished Duke in As
You Like It , resorts to the fields and woods for a season, after Eurydice is
borne away; but she is restored to him, he regains his kingdom, and they live
long afterwards. Ker says of the lay ( English Literature : Medieval, p. 127;
see also Camb. Hist. Eng. Lit. x. 328) : ' One may refer to it as a standard, to
show what can be done in the mediaeval art of narrative, with the simplest
elements and smallest amount of decoration. It is minstrel poetry, popular
poetry — the point is clear when King Orfeo excuses himself to the King of
Faerie by the rules of his profession as a minstrel ; that was intended to produce
a smile, and applause perhaps, among the audience. But though a minstrel’s
poem, it is far from rude, and it is quite free from the ordinary faults of ram¬
bling and prosing, such as Chaucer ridiculed in his Geste of Sir Thopas. It is
all in good compass, and coherent ; nothing in it is meaningless or ill-placed.’

A ballad on the theme is No. 19 of Child’s collection.

Our text follows Zielke’s print (Breslau, 1880) of the Auchinleck manuscript
(with lines 1-24, 33-46 supplied from Harl. MS. 3810), but the punctuation
has been freely altered. Occasional variations from Zielke’s readings are
noted.

We redyn 1 ofte and fynde ywryte,2
As clerkes don us to wyte,3
J>e layes fat ben of harpyng
Ben yfounde 4 of frely [ferly ?] fing.5
Sum ben of wele, and sum of wo,

And sum of joy and merfe also,

Sum of trechery, and sum of gyle,

And sum of happes 6 fat fallen by whyle 7 ;
Sum of bourdys,8 and sum of rybaudry,
And sum fer ben of fe feyrye.9
Off alle fing fat men may se,

Moost o love10 forsofe fey be.

In Brytain fis 11 layes arne 12 ywryte,
Furst yfounde and forfe ygete,13

1 read

2 written

8 make us to know
4 composed
6 of noble matters

6 events

1 happen at times

8 mirth, jests

9 magic, enchantment

10 MS. lowe

11 these

12 are

is conceived

SIR ORFEO

Of aventures fat fillen 1 by dayes,2
Wherof Brytouns made her layes.

When fey myght owher 8 heryn
Of aventures fat fer weryn,

J?ey toke her harpys wif game,4
Maden layes, and jaf it5 name.

Of aventures fat han befalle
Y can sum telle, but nought alle.6
Herken, lordyngs fat ben trewe,

And Y wol jou telle of sir Orphewe.

Orfeo was a king,

In his time an heije lording,

A stalworf man and hardi bo,7
Large,8 curteys he was also.

His fader was comen of King Pluto,
And his moder of King Juno,
pat sum time were as godes yhold,

For aventours fat fai dede and told.

Orpheo most of ony fing
Lovede fe gle of harpyng ;

Syker 9 was every gode harpour 10
Of hym to have moche honour.
Hymself loved for to harpe,

And layde fereon his wittes scharpe.11
He lernyd so, fer nofing was
A better harper in no plas.

In fe world was never man born
pat ever Orpheo sat biforn,

And 12 he mygt of his harpyng her,

He schulde finke fat he wer
In one of fe joys of Paradys,

Suche joy and melody in his harpyng is.

1 fell

2 once on a time
8 anywhere

4 joy, delight

8 them
8 MS. all

7 both

8 generous

9 sure

1° MS. harpoure

11 and gave his keen mind to the matter

12 if

ROMANCES

pis king sojurnd in Traciens,1
pat was a cite of noble defens ;

He hadde wi)> him a quen of priis,2 *
pat was ycleped Dame Heurodis —
pe fairest levedi, for )>e nones,8
pat migt gon on bodi and bones,

Ful of love and of godenisse,

Ac 4 no man may telle hir fairnise.

Bifel so in )?e comessing 5 of May,
When miri and hot is ]?e day,

Oway be)) winter-schours,

And everi feld is ful of flours,

And blosme breme 6 on everi boug
Overal 7 wexe)) 8 miri anoug,9
pis ich10 quen, Dame Heurodis,

Tok to 11 maidens of priis,

And went in an undrentide 12
To play bi an orchard-side,

To se )>e floures sprede and spring,
And to here }>e foules 13 sing.

pai sett hem doun al )>re
Under a fair ympe-tre,14
And wel sone ])is fair quene
Fel on slepe 15 opon )>e grene.
pe maidens durst hir nougt awake,
Bot lete hir ligge 16 and rest take ;

So sche slepe til afternone,
pat under[n]tide was al ydone.

Ac so sone as sche gan awake,

Sche crid and lopli bere 17 gan make :
Sche froted 18 hir honden and hir fet,

1 Thrace {lit. Thracians)

2 renown

8 at that time

4 but

s beginning

6 bright

7 everywhere

8 grow

9 enough

10 same

11 two

12 morning

IS birds
n grafted tree

15 asleep

16 lie

U unpleasing behavior
18 rubbed, wrung

SIR ORFEO

And crached 1 hir visage, it bled vvete ;
Hir riche robe sche 2 al torett,8
And was ravysed 4 out of hir witt.

]?e two 5 maidens hir biside
No durst wi)> hir no leng6 abide,

Bot ourn 7 to ]>e palays ful rigt,

And told bo]ie squier and knijt
pat her quen awede 8 wold,

And bad hem go and hir athold.9
Knijtes urn,7 and levedis also,
Damisels sexti and mo ;

In }’e orchard to Jie quen hye 10 come,
And her up in her 11 armes nome,12
And broujt hir to bed atte 18 last,

And held hir ]>ere fine 14 fast.

Ac ever sche held 16 in o 16 cri,

And wold up and owy.17

When Orfeo herd Rat tiding,

Never him nas 18 wers for 19 noting;
He come up wij) knijtes tene 20
To chaumber rijt bifor Re quene,

And biheld, and seyd wi)i grete pite :

' O lef liif, what is te,21

pat ever jete hast ben so stille,

And now gredest 22 wonder schille 28 ?
pi bodi, Rat was so white ycore,24
Wi]> fine nailes is al totore.25
Alas ! pi rode,26 pat was so red,

Is as wan as J>ou were ded,

scratched

10 they

11 their
42 took
18 at the
14 very

19 because of
2n ten

21 what is ill with thee

22 dost cry

28 wondrous shrill (y)

24 choicely

25 rent

28 complexion

MS. hye

rent apart

ravished ; MS. reneyd

MS. too

longer

ran

16 one

17 away

18 continued

go mad
restrain

18 it was not

ROMANCES

And also fine fingres smale
Bef al blodi and al pale 1
Allas, fi lovesum eygen to 1
Lokef so 2 man dof on his fo 1
A, dame, Ich biseche merci 1
Lete ben 8 al fis reweful cri,

And tel me what f e is 4 and hou,

And what fing may fe help now.’

po lay sche stille atte last,

And gan to wepe swife fast,

And seyd fus fe king to :

' Allas, mi lord, sir Orfeo !

Seffen we first togider were,

Ones 6 wrof 8 never we nere 7 ;

Bot ever Ich have yloved ]>e
As mi liif, and so fou me.

Ac now we mot delen ato 8 ;

Do fi best, for y mot9 go.’

' Allas,’ qua)) he, ' forlorn Ich am !
Whider wiltow go, and to wham ?
Whider fou gost, Ichil 10 wif fe,

And whider Y go, fou schalt wif me.’
' Nay, nay, sir, fat nougt nis 11 ;

Ichil fe telle al hou it is :

As Ich lay fis undertide,

And slepe under our orchard-side,
f>er come to me to 1 fair knigtes,

Wele y-armed 12 al to rijtes,

And bad me comen on 13 heiging,14
And speke wif her 15 lord f e king.
And Ich answerd at 16 wordes bold,

1 two

2 as

8 put aside, cease

4 what ails thee

5 once

6 angry

7 were not

8 separate (part in two)
3 must

1« I will

n that is in no way possible
42 armed

18 MS. an
14 in haste
45 their
16 with

SIR ORFEO

nor would I
rode hard
hasten
very quickly
their garments
chosen out
but

Y durst nougt, no Y nold.1

J?ai priked 2 ogain, as J>ai migt drive 8 ;
]?o kom her king also blive,4
Wip an hundred knigtes and mo,

And damisels an hundred also,

A1 on snowe-white stedes ;

As white as milke were her wedes.6

Y no seige never gete bifore
So fair creatours ycore.6

pe king hadde a croun on hed ;

It nas of silver, no of gold red,

Ac 7 it was of a precious ston ;

As brigt as pe sonne it schon.

And as son as he to me cam,

Wold Ich, nold Ich,8 he me nam,9
And made me wip him ride
Opon a palfray bi his side,

And brougt me to his palays,

Wele atird 10 in ich ways,11

And schewed me castels and tours,

Rivers, forestes, frip 12 wip flours,

And his riche stedes 13 ichon ;

And seppen me brougt ogain hom
Into our owhen 14 orchard ;

And said to me pus afterward :

" Loke, dame, to-morwe patow 16 be
Rigt here under pis ympe-tre,

And pan pou schalt wip ous 16 go,

And live wip ous evermo ;

And gif pou makest ous ylet,17
Whar 18 pou be, pou worst yfet,19

8 whether I was willing or not

(would I, would I not)

9 took

10 adorned
U in all ways
12 glade
18 places

14 own

15 that thou

16 us

17 delay

1® wherever
19 shalt be fetched

ROMANCES

1 though

2 be

3 shalt be

4 carried away
6 situation

6 O woe
" give up

And totore pine limes al,
pat noting help pe no schal ;

And )>ei 1 pou best 2 so totorn,

<gete |K)u worst 8 wip ous yborn.4 ” ’

When king Orfeo herd pis cas,6
' Owe 6 ! ’ quap he, ’ alias, alias 1
Lever me were to lete 7 mi liif,
pan pus to lese 8 pe quen mi wiif 1 ’

He asked conseyl at9 ich man,

Ac no man him help no can.

Amorwe 10 pe undertide is come,

And Orfeo hap his armes ynome,11
And wele ten hundred knigtes wip him,
Ich y-armed stout and grim ;

And wip pe quen wenten he 12
Rigt unto pat ympe-tre.
pai made scheltrom 13 in icha side,14
And sayd pai wold pere abide,

And dye per everichon,

Er pe quen schuld from hem gon.

Ac gete amiddes hem ful rigt 15
pe quen was oway ytwigt,16
Wip fairi 17 forp ynome ;

Men wist never wher sche was bicome.18

]?o was per criing, wepe, and wo ;

)?e king into his chaumber is go,19
And oft swoned opon pe ston,

And made swiche diol 20 and swiche mon
pat neige his liif was yspent —

]?er was no amendement.

He cleped togider his barouns,

8 lose

9 from

10 on the morrow

11 taken

12 they

13 band, troop

14 each side

15 from amidst them
48 snatched ; MS. ytvight
1" by witchcraft, magic

18 what was become of her

19 gone

20 dole

SIR ORFEO

Erls, lordes of renouns 1 ;

And when fai al yeomen were,

' Lordinges,’ he said, ' bifore jou here
Ich ordainy min heije-steward

To wite2 mi kingdom afterward; 5

In mi stede ben he schal,

To kepe mi londes over al.

For, now Ichave mi quen ylore,8
J>e fairest levedi Rat ever was bore,

Never eft Y nil 4 no woman se ; 10

Into wildemes Ichil te,6

And live fer evermore

Wif wilde bestes in holtes 6 hore.7

And when je understand fat Y be spent,8

Make jou fan a parlement, 15

And chese jou a newe king ;

Now dof jour best wif al mi fing.9 ’
po was fer wepeing in fe halle,

And grete cri among hem alle ;

Unnefe10 mijt old or jong 20

For wepeing speke a word wif tong.
pai kneled adoun al yfere,

And praid him, jif his wille were,
pat he no schuld fram hem go ;

' Do way,’ quaf he, ' it schal be so.’ 25

Al his kingdom he forsoke,

Bot a sclavin 11 on him he 12 take —

He ne hadde kirtel no hode,

Schert, [ne] non ofer gode.

Bot his harp he tok, algate,18 30

And dede him barfot out atte jate ;

No man most14 wif him go.

renown

6 forests

11 pilgrim’s mantle

rule

" gray (from lichens or bareness)

I2 MS. te

lost

8 dead

13 notwithstanding

will not

9 property

14 was allowed

journey

1° scarcely, with difficulty

ROMANCES

Oway 1 what fer was wepe and wo,
When he fat hadde ben king wif croun,
Went so poverlich out of toun I
J?urch wode and over he]?

Into fe wildernes he gef ;

Noting he fint pat him is ays,1
Bot ever he livef in gret malais.2
He fat hadde ywed 3 fe fowe 4 and griis,6
And on bed fe purper biis,6
Now on hard hefe he lif,

Wif leves and gresse he him wrif.7
He fat hadde had castels and tours,

River, forest, frif wif flours,

Now, fei 8 it comenci to snewe 9 and frese,
J>is king mote make his bed in mese 10 ;

He fat had yhad knijtes of priis
Bifor him kneland, and levedis,

Now sef he nofing fat him likef,11
Bot wilde wormes bi him strikef 12 ;

He fat had yhad plente
Of mete and drink, of ich deynte,

Now may he al day digge and wrote,13
Er he finde his fille of rote.14
In somer he livef bi 18 wild frut
And berren 16 bot gode lut 17 ;

In winter may he nofing finde
Bot rote, grases, and fe rinde.18
Al his bodi was oway dwine 19
For missays,20 and al tochine.21
Lord ! who may telle f e sore 22

1 ease

2 distress, discomfort

3 worn

4 variegated fur
6 gray fur

6 fine linen (Lat. byssus )

7 covers

8 though

9 snow
1° moss

13 grub

14 roots

15 on

11 pleaseth

12 slip, crawl

16 berries

i" very few (good little) ; MS. lite

48 bark

49 shrunk ; MS. dvine
20 discomfort

24 chapped
22 Dain

pain

SIR ORFEO

}’is king sufferd ten jere and more ?

His here of his herd, blac and rowe,1
To his girdelstede was growe ;

His harp, whereon was al his gle,

He hidde in an holwe tre ; 5

And, when ]>e weder was clere and brijt,

He toke his harp to him wel rijt,

And harped at his owhen wille ;

Into alle ]>e wode f>e soun gan schille,2

]?at alle )>e wilde bestes ]>at J>er be}> 10

For joie abouten him pai te)>,3

And alle |>e foules )>at )>er were

Come and sete on ich a brere,4

To here his harping afin,5

So miche melody was J>erin ; 1 5

And when he his harping lete 6 wold,

No best bi him abide nold.

He mijt se him bisides
Oft in hot undertides

pe king o fairi,7 wif> his rout, 20

Com to hunt him al about,

Wij> dun,8 [with] cri and bloweing,9
And houndes also wi)> him berking ;

Ac no best )>ai no nome,10

No never he nist 11 whider jtai bicome. 25

And o)>er while he mijt him se
As a gret ost bi him te 12 —

Wele atoumed la ten hundred knijtes,

Ich y-armed to his rijtes,14

Of contenaunce stout and fers, 30

WiJj mani desplaid baners, ♦

2 did shrill

3 draw

4 briar

6 perfectly; MS. afine

1 rough

6 blowing of horns
10 did they take

6 stop
' fairyland
8 din

11 knew not

12 come

13 appointed, fitted out

14 properly

ROMANCES

3°

And ich his swerd ydrawe hold,1
Ac never he nist whider }>ai wold.

And o]>er while he seige o)?er )>ing :
Knigtes and levedis com daunceing,

In queynt atire, gisely,2

[With] queynt[e] 8 pas and soft[e]ly ;

Tabours and trumpes4 gede hem bi,

And al maner menstraci.

And on a day he seige him biside
Sexti levedis on hors ride,

Gentil and jolif 5 as brid on ris 6 —
Nougt o man amonges hem fer nis ;

And ich a faucoun on hond bere,7
And riden on haukin[g] bi o rivere.

Of game J>ai founde wel gode haunt 8 —
Maulardes,9 hayroun,10 and cormeraunt.
)?e foules of ]?e water arise)?,

J>e faucouns hem wele devisej? 11 :

Ich faucoun his pray sloug.
pa.t seige Orfeo, and loug.12
' Parfay,13 ’ qua)? he, ' )>er is fair game,
J>ider Ichil, bi Codes name !

Ich was ywon 14 swiche werk to se ’ ;

He aros, and ]nder gan te.

To a levedi he was ycome,

Biheld, and ha)> wele undernome,15

And se)> bi al )>ing )>at it is

His owhen quen, Dam Heurodis.

<?>ern 16 he biheld hir, and sche him eke,
Ac noiJ>er to o]?er a word no speke.

For messais ]>at sche on him seige,

3°

1 held

6 spray, twig

12 laughed

13 by (my) faith

14 wont, accustomed

15 perceived

13 eagerly, gladly

2 handsomely

3 dainty

4 drums and trumpets ; MS.

9 mallards (wild ducks)

10 heron

7 inf. after sei^e, line 9

8 resort

trimpes
5 merry

n make their plans well

SIR ORFEO

J’at had ben so riche and so heije,1
)’e teres fel out of her eije.

)7e oper levedis ]hs yseije,

And maked hir oway to ride —

Sche most wi)> him no lenger abide. 5

' Allas,’ qua}) he, ' now me is wo 1
Whi nil 2 3 de}> now me slo ?

Allas, wreche,8 ]>at Y no migt
Dye now after ]hs sigt !

Allas ! to 4 * long last mi liif, 10

When Y no dar nougt wi]) mi wiif,

No hye s to me, o word speke.

Allas ! whi nil min hert breke ?

Parfay,’ qua]) he, ' tide wat bitide,6

Whider so pis 7 levedis ride, 15

J?e selve 8 way Ichil streche 9 ;

Of liif no de)> me no reche.10 ’

His sclavain he dede 11 on, als he 12 spac,18
And henge his harp opon his bac,

And had wel gode wil to gon — 20

He no spard noiper stub no ston.

In at a roche ))e leuedis ride}),

And he after, and noujt abide}).

When he was in ]>e roche ygo

Wele ])re mile o})er 14 mo, 25

He com into a fair cuntray,

As brijt so 15 sonne on somers day,

Smo})e and plain and al grene —

Hille no dale was per non ysene.

Amidde pe lond a castel he s[e]ije, 30

Riche and real 16 and wonder heije.

1 high, lofty 7 these is spoke

1 wiH not 8 same u or

3 miserable that I am 9 go 15 as

4 too 10 I care not 16 royal

6 nor she 11 Put

6 happen what may happen 12 MS. al so

IOO

ROMANCES

A1 pe utmast wal
Was clere and schine 1 as cristal 5
An hundred tours per were about,
Degiselich 2 3 and bataild stout ;

S pe butras com out of pe diche,8

Of rede gold y-arched 4 riche ;
pe bonsour 5 was anourned 6 al
Of ich maner divers animal ;

Wijrin per wer wide wones,'

10 Al of precious stones ;

pe werst piler on to biholde 8
Was al of burnist gold.

Al ]>at lond was ever lijt :

For when it schuld be perk9 and nijt,

15 pe riche stones lijt gonne,10

As brijt as dop at none pe sonne.

No man may telle, no penche in poujt,
pe riche werk pat per was wroujt ;

Bi al ping him pink 11 pat it is
20 pe: proude court of Paradis.

In pis castel pe levedis alijt ;

He wold in after, jif he mijt :

Orfeo knokkep atte gate ;
pe porter was redi perate,

25 And asked what he wold have ydo.

' Parfay,’ quap he, ' Ich am a minstrel, lo !
To solas pi lord wip mi gle,

^if his suete wille be.’
pe porter undede pe jate anon,

30 And lete him into pe castel gon.

pan he gan bihold about al,

And seige ful 12 liggeand 18 wipin pe wal

1 bright, beautiful

2 elaborately ornamented

3 moat

4 arched

6 arch

6 adorned ; MS. avowed

7 apartments

8 to look on ; in appearance

9 dark

i° began to shine

11 it would seem to him

12 full many

13 lying

SIR ORFEO

IOI

1 head

2 had not

3 mad

4 drowned
* parched

Of folk fat were fider ybrougt,

And fougt dede, and nere nougt.

Sum stode wifouten hade,1
And sum non armes nade,2

And sum furch fe bodi hadde wounde, 5

And sum lay wode,3 ybounde,

And sum, armed, on hors sete,

And sum astrangled as fai ete,

And sum were in water adreynt,4

And sum wif fire al forschreynt 5 ; io

Wives fer lay on childbedde,

Sum ded, and sum awedde 6 ;

And wonder fele ]>er lay bisides,

Rigt as }>ai slepe her 7 undertides ;

Eche was fus in fis warld ynome, 1 5

Wif fairi 8 fider ycome.
per he seige his owhen wiif,

Dame Heurodis, his lef 9 liif,

Slepe under an ympe-tre :

Bi her clofes he knewe fat it was he.10 20

And when he hadde bihold fis 11 mervails alle,

He went into fe kinges halle ;
pan seige he fer a semly 12 sigt —

A tabernacle blisseful and brigt,

perin her7 maister king sete, 25

And her quen fair and swete.

Her 7 crounes, her 7 clofes schine so brigt,
pat unnefe 13 bihold he hem migt.

When he hadde biholden al fat fing,

He kneled adoun bifor fe king. 30

6 out of their minds 11 these

7 their 12 comely

3 enchantment 18 with difficulty

9 dear; MS. liif (see 91 23)

10 she

3 ff. Cf. the enumeration in Chaucer, Knight's Tale 1 137 ff.

102

ROMANCES

1 shalt
? send for

3 believe

4 am only

5 seek

' O lord,’ he seyd, ’ jif it pi wille were,

Mi menstraci pou schust1 yhere.’

J?e king answerd : ’ What man artow,
pat art hider yeomen now ?

Ich, no non pat is wip me,

No sent never after pe ;

Seppen pat ich here regni gan,

Y no fond so folehardi man
]?at hider to ous durst wende,

Bot pat Ichim wold ofsende.2 ’

' Lord,’ quap he, ' trowe 8 ful wel,

Y nam bot 4 a pover menstrel ;

And, sir, it is pe maner of ous
To seche5 mani a lordes hous ;

}i>ei we noujt welcom no be,

^ete we mot 0 proferi forp our gle.7 ’

Bifore pe king he sat adoun,

And tok his harp so miri of soun,

And temprep 8 his harp, as he wele can
And blisseful notes he per gan,
pat al pat in pe palays were
Com to him for to here,

And liggep9 adoun to 10 his fete —

Hem penkep 11 his melody so swete.

]?e king herknep and sitt ful stille,

To here his gle he hap gode wille;

Gode bourde 12 he hadde of his gle,

}?e riche quen also hadde he.18

When he hadde stint 14 his harping,
pan seyd to him pe king :

' Menstrel, me likep wele pi gle ;

Now aske of me what it be,

3 must needs n to them seems

7 song, music 12 amusement, enjoyment

8 tunes is she

9 lie 14 ceased

10 at

SIR ORFEO

103

Largelich 1 Ichil 2 ]>e pay.

Now speke, and taw mijt asay.8 ’

' Sir,’ he seyd, ' Ich biseche ]>e
patow woldest jive me
pat ich 4 levedi, brijt on ble,5
pat slepe]) under ]>e ympe-tre.’

' Nay, qua]) pe king, ' pat noujt nere6l
A sori couple of jou it were,

For pou art lene, rowe,7 and blac,

And sche is lovesum, witpouten lac 8 ;

A loplich 9 ping it were, forJ>i,10
To sen hir in ]u compayni.’

' O sir,’ he seyd, ' gentil king,

^ete were it a wele fouler ping
To here a lesing11 of12 pi moupe ;

So, sir, as je seyd noupe,18
What I wold aski, have Y schold ;

And nedes pou most pi word hold.14’
pe king seyd : ' Seppen it is so,

Take hir bi )>e hond, and go ;

Of hir Ichil patow 15 be blipe.’

He knelyd adoun, and ponked him swipe ;
His wiif he tok bi pe hond,

And dede 16 him swipe out of pat lond,

And went him out of pat pede 17 ;

Rijt as he come, pe way he jede.

So long he hap pe way ynome,

To Traciens he is ycome,
pat was his owhen cite ;

Ac no man knewe pat it was he.

No former pan pe tounes ende

4 generously
2 I will

8 if thou canst make trial
4 same

6 of hue

6 were not possible

1 rough

8 lack, fault

9 loathsome, dreadful

10 therefore
n lie

12 from

18 now

14 keep

15 that thou
10 went

people

104

ROMANCES

For knoweleche 1 [he] ne durst wende ;
Bot wip a begger ybilt 2 3 ful narwe.
per he tok his herbarwe 8
To 4 him and to his owhen wiif
As a minstrel of pover liif,

And asked tidings of pat lond,

And who pe kingdom held in hond.
pe pover begger in his cote 5
Told him everich a grot6 —

How her quen was stole owy,

Ten ger gon,7 wip 8 fairy ;

And hou her9 king in exile jede,

Bot no 10 man nist in wiche pede ;

And hou pe steward pe lond gan hold ■
And oper mani pinges him told.
Amorwe ojain none tide,11
He maked his wiif per abide ;

]?e beggers elopes he borwed 12 anon,
And heng his harp his rigge 13 opon,
And went him into pat cite,

]?at men mijt him bihold and se.

Erls and barouns bold,

Buriays 14 and levedis him gan bihold.

' Lo,’ pai seyd, ' swiche a man !

How long pe here hongep him opan 1
Lo, hou his berd hongep to his kne !
He is yclongen 15 also a tre ! ’

And as he jede in pe strete,

Wip his steward he gan mete,

And loude he sett on him a crie :

' Sir steward,’ he seyd, ' merci !

Ich am an harpour of hepenisse 16 ;

1 for fear of being recognized

2 lodged

3 shelter

4 for

5 cot

6 every little bit, every detail

' ago

8 by

9 their

w MS. so

11 towards noon

12 borrowed ; MS. borved

18 back

14 burgesses, citizens

15 shrunk, withered

16 from heathendom

SIR ORFEO

105

Help me now in ]ns destresse ! ’
pe steward seyd : ' Com wif> me home 1 ;

Of fat Ichave, )>ou schalt have some.

Everich gode harpour is welcom me to,

For mi lordes love, Sir Orfeo.’ 5

In he castel he steward sat atte mete,

And many lording was bi him sete ;
per were trompour[s] and tabourers,

Harpours fele, and crouders.2

Miche melody hei maked alle ; 10

And Orfeo sat stille in he halle,

And herkne]’. When hei ben al stille,

He toke his harp and tempred schille 3 ;
pe blissefulest notes he harped here

pat ever ani man yherd wih ere ; 1 5

Ich man liked wele his gle.

pe steward biheld and gan yse,

And knewe he harp also 4 blive.5
* Menstrel,’ he seyd, ' so mot hou hrive,6
Where hadestow his harp, and hou ? 20

Y pray hat hou me telle now.’

' Lord,’ quajr he, ' in uncouhe 7 hede,
purch a wildernes as Y jede,
per Y founde, in a dale,

Wih 8 lyouns a man totorn smale, 25

And wolves him frete 9 wi]> tej> so scharp.

Bi him Y fond his ich [a] 10 harp ;

Wele ten gere it is ygo.’

' O,’ quah he steward, ' now me is wo !

pat was mi lord, Sir Orfeo. 30

Allas, wreche, what schal Y do,

pat have swiche a lord ylore ?

Away,11 hat Ich was ybore !

1 MS. come 4 MS. als « by

2 players on the crowd, an early 6 instantly 0 devoured

Celtic form of the violin 6 mayst thou prosper ln same

8 shrilly 7 strange 11 woe

io6

ROMANCES

pat him was so hard grace 1 parked,2
And so vile dep ymarked 8 ! ’

Adoun he fel aswon to grounde.

His barouns him toke up in pat stounde,4
5 And tellep him hou it gep —

It is no bot6 of manes dep.

King Orfeo knewe wele bipan
His steward was a trewe man ;

And loved him, as he augt to do,
io And stont up and seyS 6 pus : ' Lo,

Steward, herkne now pis ping :

,gif Ich were Orfeo pe king,

And hadde ysuffred ful jore 7
In wildernisse miche sore ;

15 And hadde ywon mi quen owy

Out of pe lond of fairy ;

And hadde ybrougt pe levedi hende 8
Rijt here to pe tounes ende,

And wip a begger her in ynome ;

20 And were miself hider ycome

Poverlich to pe, pus stille,

For to asay pi gode wille ;

And ich founde pe pus trewe,

J>ou no schust it never rewe 9 :

25 Sikerlich,10 for love or ay,11

]?ou schust be king after mi day.

<^if 12 pou of mi dep hadest ben blipe,
J>ou schust ben voided 18 also swipe.14 ’
]?o al po 15 pat perein sete

30 pat it was King Orfeo undelete,16

And pe steward him wele knewe.

1 such misfortune

2 appointed

3 decreed

4 time
6 help

6 MS. seyt

7 for a long time past

8 gentle, gracious

9 repent

10 truly

11 or fear

12 MS. and gif

is shouldst have been put out

14 in all haste

15 then all those

18 understood, perceived

SIR ORFEO

107

Over and over pe bord 1 he )>rewe,

And fel adoun to his fet ;

So dede everich lord pat ]>er sete ;

And al }>ai seyd at o criing :

' ,^e be]) our lord, sir, and our king 1 ’ 5

Glad pai were of his live.2
To chaumber pai ladde him also 8 blive,4
And baped him, and schaved his berd,

And tired 3 him as a king apert 6 ;

And seppen7 wi]> gret processioun 10

pai broujt pe quen into pat toun,

Wip al maner menstraci.

Lord, per was grete melody !

For joie pai wepe wip her eije,

pat hem so sounde 8 yeomen seije. 15

Now king Orfeo newe coround is,

And his quen Dame Heurodis,

And lived long afterward ;

And seppen was king pe steward.

Harpours in Bretaine afterpan 20

Herd hou pis mervaile bigan,

And made 9 a lay of gode likeing,

And nempned it after pe king ;
pat lay ' Orfeo ’ is yhote 10 —

Gode is pe lay, swete is pe note. 25

]?us com Sir Orfeo out of his care ;

God graunt ous alle wele to fare.

1 table 6 attired 9 MS. made hereof

2 life 6 evident in his looks 10 called

8 MS. als 7 afterwards

4 as quickly as possible 8 well in body

io8

ROMANCES

CHAUCER, SIR THOPAS

Sir Thopas is well characterized by Ker ( English Literature: Medieval ,
pp. 129-31): 'Chaucer’s burlesque is easily misunderstood. It is criticism,
and it is ridicule ; it shows up the true character of the common minstrelsy —
the rambling narrative, the conventional stopgaps, the complacent childish
vanity of the popular artist who has his audience in front of him, and knows
all the easy tricks by which he can hold their attention. . . . Chaucer has made
a good thing out of the rhyme doggerel, and expresses the pleasant old-
fashioned quality of the minstrels’ romances, as well as their absurdities. His
parody touches on the want of plan and method and meaning in the popular
rhymes of chivalry ; it is also intended as criticism of their verse. That verse
. . . is technically called rime couee or " tail-rhyme.” . . . It very readily becomes
monotonous and flat. . . . But it is a form of stanza which may be so used as to
escape the besetting faults ; the fact that it has survived through all the
changes of literary fashion, and has been used by poets in all the different
centuries, is something to the credit of the minstrels, as against the rude
common-sense criticism of the Host of the Tabard when he stopped the Rime
of Sir Thopas.' Skeat also is tempted to break a lance in behalf of the poem
(Chaucer, Works 3. 424) : ' I cannot quite resist the suspicion that Chaucer may
himself, in his youth, have tried his hand at such romance-writing in all seri¬
ousness, but lived to have a good-humored laugh even in some degree at his
own expense ; and he seems as if endeavoring to make his readers feel that
they could wish there was somewhat more of it.’

For the parodies in detail, see Bennewitz’ dissertation (Halle, 1879); Kolb-
ing’s article in Englische Studien, Vol. 11 ; and Skeat’s notes. Our text in
general follows Skeat.

For Chaucer in general, see Root, The Poetry of Chaucer (Boston, 1922),
Legouis, Geoffrey Chazicer (London, 1913), or Jusserand, Lit. Hist. Eng. People
1. 267-343. To the investigator, Miss Hammond’s Chaucer: a Bibliographical
Manual (New York, 1908) is indispensable.

Listeth, lordes, in good entent,1
And I wol telle verrayment 2
Of mirthe and of solas 3 ;

A1 of a knyght was fair and gent 4
In bataille and in tourneyment —
His name was Sir Thopas.

1 with good will

2 verily

8 diversion
4 refined, noble

CHAUCER, SIR THOPAS

109

Ybom he was in fer contree,

In Flaundres, al biyonde the see,

At Popering,1 in the place 2 * ;

His fader was a man ful free,8
And lord he was of that contree,

As it was Goddes grace.

Sir Thopas wex 4 5 a doghty 6 swayn ;

^ hyt was his face as payndemayn,6
His lippes rede as rose ;

His rode 7 was s lyk scarlet in grayn,9
And I yow telle in good certayn,

He hadde a semely nose.

His heer, his berd was lyk saffroun,10
That to his girdel raughte 11 adoun,

His shoon 12 of Cordewane 13 ;

Of Brugges 14 were his hosen 15 broun ;

His robe was of ciclatoun 16
That coste many a jane.17

He coude hunte at wilde deer,

And ryde an hauking for riveer,18
With grey goshauk on honde ;

Therto he was a good archeer ;

Of wrastling was ther noon his peer,

Ther 19 any ram 20 shal stonde.

Ful many a mayde, bright in bour,21
They moorne for him, paramour,22
Whan hem were bet 28 to slepe ;

1 a small town in the dis¬

trict of Calais, south¬
west of Ostend

2 manor-house, chief house

of a town or village
8 noble

4 grew to be

5 valiant

6 very fine white bread

7 complexion (OE. rudu)

» MS is

9 dyed with cochineal ; of
a fast color

1° yellow

11 reached

12 shoes

13 Cordovan leather

14 Bruges, in Belgium

16 tight-fitting trousers, cov¬
ering the feet

18 costly material, often em¬
broidered with gold

17 small coin of Genoa, re¬
ferred to in England as
halfpence

78 towards the river

19 where

20 A ram was the usual prize

at a wrestling-match

21 bower

22 longingly

28 it were better for them

I IO ROMANCES

But he was chast and no lechour,1 2
And sweet as is the bremble-flour *
That bereth the rede hepe.3

And so bifel upon a day,

5 Forsothe, as I yow telle may,

Sir Thopas wolde out ryde ;

He worth upon 4 his stede gray,

And in his honde a launcegay,5
A long swerd by his syde.

io He priketh 6 thurgh a fair forest,

Therinne is many a wilde best,

Ye, bothe bukke and hare ;

And, as he priketh north and est,

I telle it yow, him 7 hadde almest
15 Bitid 8 a sory care.9

Ther springen herbes grete and smale,
The lycorys 10 and cetewale,11
And many a clowe-gilofre 12 ;

And notemuge 13 to put in ale,

20 Whether it be moyste or stale,

Or for to leye in cofre.14

The briddes 16 singe, it is no nay,16
The sparhauk 17 and the papejay,18
That joye it was to here ;

25 The thrustlecok 19 made eek his lay,

The wodedowve 20 upon the spray
She sang ful loude and clere.

1 unchaste man, debauchee

2 flower of the bramble (dog-rose)

3 hip (fruit of the dog-rose)

4 got upon

6 a kind of lance, probably rather short

6 rides hard

7 to him

8 happened

9 a grievous misfortune
1° licorice

11 zedoary (used in medicine
as a stimulant)

42 clove
13 nutmeg

14 a box

15 birds

is it cannot be denied

17 sparrow-hawk

18 parrot

19 male thrush

20 wood-dove

CHAUCER, SIR THOPAS

ill

Sir Thopas fil in 1 love-longinge
A1 whan he herde the thrustel singe,

And priked as he were wood 2 ;

His faire stede in his prikinge
So swatte 3 that men mighte him wringe ;
His sydes were al blood.

Sir Thopas eek so wery was,

For prikinge on the softe gras —

So tiers 4 was his corage —

That doun he leyde him in that plas,

To make his stede som solas,

And yaf him good forage.

' O Seinte Marie, ben‘dteb\

What eyleth this love at me,6
To binde T me so sore ?

Me dremed 8 al this night, pardee,9
An elf-queen shal my lemman be,

And slepe under my gore.10

An elf-queen wol I love, ywis,11
For in this world no womman is
Worthy to be my make,12

In toune 13 ;

Alle othere wommen I forsake,

And to an elf-queen I me take,

By dale and eek by doune 14 ! ’

Into his sadel he clamb anoon,

And priketh over style 15 and stoon,
An elf -queen for t’ espye,

1 fell into

2 as if he were mad

3 sweat
< fierce

6 benedicite, bless ye (the Lord)
6 with respect to me

7 enthral

8 I dreamed

9 F. par Dieu
10 garment

77 certainly, truly
72 mate

78 in the town, in the district

(a mere verse-tag)
74 down, hill
76 stile

ROMANCES

I 12

Til he so longe had riden and goon
That he fond, in a privee woon,1
The contree of Fairye

So wilde ;

For in that contree was ther noon
That to him dorste ryde or goon,2
Neither wyf ne childe,

Til that ther cam a greet geaunt,3
(His name was Sir Olifaunt 4),

A perilous man of dede.

He seyde : ' Child,6 by Termagaunt,6
But-if 7 thou prike out of myn haunt,
Anon I slee 8 thy stede

With mace.

Heer is the queen of Fayerye,

With harpe and pype and simphonye,9
Dwelling in this place.’

The childe seyde : ' Also mote I thee,10
To-morwe wol I mete thee,

Whan I have myn armoure ;

And yet I hope, par ma fay}x
That thou shalt with this launcegay
Abyen it ful soure 12 ;

Thy mawe 13

Shal I percen, if I may,

Er it be fully pryme of day,14
For heer thou shalt be slawe.16 ’

Sir Thopas drow abak 16 ful faste ;
This geaunt at him stones caste
Out of a fel 17 staf-slinge 18 ;

I 12

1 secret retreat

2 This line is supplied from

6 a Saracen idol

7 unless

8 will slay

9 a kind of tabor

10 as I may thrive

11 by my faith

12 pay for it bitterly

13 maw, stomach

14 prime = 6-9 a.m. ; fully

an inferior MS.

3 giant

4 Elephant

6 title of a young squire or

knight

prime = 9 a.m.

13 slain

16 drew back

17 deadly

18 sling fastened to a stick

CHAUCER, SIR THOPAS

1 1 3

But faire escapeth Child Thopas,

And al it was thurgh Goddes gras,1
And thurgh his fair beringe.

Yet listeth, lordes, to my tale
Merier than the nightingale,

For now I wol yow roune 2
How Sir Thopas, with sydes smale,
Priking over hil and dale,

Is come agayn to toune.

His merie men comanded he
To make him bothe game 3 and glee,

For nedes moste he fighte
With a geaunt with hevedes 4 three,

For paramour5 and jolitee6

Of oon 7 that shoon 3 ful brighte.

' Do9 come,’ he seyde, ' my min[i]strales
And gestours,10 for to tellen tales
Anon, in11 myn arminge ;

Of romances that been royales,

Of popes and of cardinales,

And eek of love-lykinge.’

They fette him first the swete wyn,

And mede 12 eek in a maselyn,13
And royal spicerye 14
Of gingebreed 15 that was ful fyn,

And lycorys, and eek comyn,16
With sugre that is so trye.17

3 sport

4 heads

5 love

3 amusement

1 grace, favor

2 relate (prop, whisper)

t one
8 shone
8 cause to
1° story-tellers

11 during

12 mead

is maple bowl
I4 mixture of spices
18 preserved ginger
l® cumin
ir choice

5. Merier . . . nightingale : borrowed by Chaucer from Sir Bevis of Hampton.

ROMANCES

1 14

He dide 1 next his whyte lere 2
Of clooth of lake 8 fyn and clere
A breech 4 and eek a sherte ;
And next his sherte an aketoun,5
And over that an habergeoun,0
For 7 percinge of his herte ;

And over that a fyn hauberk 8
Was al ywroght of Jewes werk,
Ful strong it was of plate9 ;
And over that his cote-armour,10
As whyt as is a lily-flour,

In which he wol debate.11

His sheeld was al of gold so reed,

And therin was a bores heed,

A charbocle 12 bisyde ;

And there he swoor, on ale and breed,
How that ' The geaunt shal be deed,
Bityde what bityde 18 ! ’

His jambeux 14 were of quirboilly,15
His swerdes shethe of yvory,

His helm of laton 16 bright ;

His sadel was of rewel-boon 17 ;

His brydel as the sonne shoon,

Or as the mone light.

His spere was of fyn ciprees,18
That bodeth werre, and nothing 19 pees,
The heed ful sharpe ygrounde ;

1 put on

2 flesh

3 linen

4 pair of breeches

5 short, sleeveless tunic

6 coat of mail

7 as protection against

8 hauberk, coat of mail

9 breastplate on the front of

the hauberk (?)

10 a surcoat, not of metal

11 combat

12 carbuncle

18 happen what may happen
14 leg-pieces

15 boiled leather, dried very
hard (F. cuir bouilli)

18 latten (metal compounded
chiefly of copper and zinc)

17 walrus-ivory

18 cypress-wood (as associated

with death)

19 by no means

CHAUCER, SIR THOPAS

1 15

His stede was al dappel-gray,

It gooth an ambel 1 in the way,

Ful softely and rounde2

In londe.

Lo, lordes myne, heer is a fit 8 1
If ye wol any more of it,

To telle it wol I fonde.4

Now hold your mouth , par charitee*
Bothe knight and lady free,

And herkneth to my spelle 6 ;

Of bataille and of chivalry,

And of ladyes love-drury,7
Anon I wol yow telle.

Men speke of romances of prys,* —
Of Horn Child and of Ypotys,

Of Bevis and Sir Gy,

Of Sir Libeux and Pleyndamour ;
But Sir Thopas, he bereth the flour
Of royal chivalry.

1 at an ambling pace 4 endeavor courtship

2 with an easy motion 5 for charity 8 renown

8 a division of a song or poem 6 story

15. The romance of Horn appears in two forms, King Horn (see p. 11)
and Horn Childe. Chaucer probably refers to Horn Childe.

The romance of Sir Ypotis has not much in common with the others
mentioned here; in it the Emperor Adrian interrogates the child Ypotis as to
matters of God’s law.

16. Sir Bevis of Hampton and Sir Guy of Warwick are two of the longest
and dullest of mediaeval romances.

17. Sir Libeux : a romance entitled Lybeans Disconus ( The Fair Unknown ).
— Pleyndamour : no romance of this name is known ; the original must have
been in French.

ROMANCES

1 16

His gode stede al he bistrood,

And forth upon his wey he glood 1
As sparkle out of the bronde 2 ;
Upon his crest he bar a tour,3
And therin stiked 4 a lily-flour ;

God shilde his cors 5 fro shonde 6 !

And for he was a knight auntrous,7
He nolde 8 slepen in non hous,

But liggen 9 in his hode 10 ;

His brighte helm was his wonger,11
And by him baiteth 12 his dextrer 13
Of 14 herbes fyne and gode.

Himself drank water of the wel,
As did the knight Sir Percivel,
So worthy under wede,15
Til on a day - •

1 glided

2 burning wood, brand

3 tower

4 fixed

5 body

6 shame, disgrace

7 adventurous
3 would not

9 lie

10 hood

11 pillow (cf. wang, cheek)

12 feeds

13 courser

14 on

15 well-looking in his armor

*3- A reference to the romance, Sir Perceval of Gall/s.

TALES

CHAUCER, PRIORESS’ TALE: THE LITTLE
CHOIR-BOY

See the general references on Chaucer at the close of the introductory note
to Sir Thopas, p. 108.

Prologue

O Lord our lord, thy name how merveillous
Is in this large worlde ysprad 1 (quod she) ;

For noght only thy laude precious
Parfoumed is by men of dignitee,

But by the mouth of children thy bountee
Parfourned 2 is, for on the brest soukinge 8
Som tyme shewen they thyn heryinge.4

Wherfor in laude, as I best can or may,

Of thee, and of the whyte lily-flour
Which that thee bar,8 and is a mayde alway,

To telle a storie I wol do my labour ;

Not that I may encresen hir honour ;

For she hirself is honour, and the rote
Of bountee, next hir Sone, and soules bote.6

O moder mayde ! O mayde moder free !

O bush unbrent,7 brenninge in Moyses sighte,

That ravisedest 8 doun fro the deitee,

Thurgh thyn humblesse, the Goost 9 that in th’ alighte,

Of whos vertu, whan he thyn herte lighte,

spread abroad 4 praise 7 unburnt (Exod. 3. 2)

perfected (cf. Ps. 8. 2, Vulg. ; Matt. 21. 16) 5 bore 8 didst draw

sucking 6 healing, salvation 9 Spirit (Matt. 1. 18)

4. men of dignitee : such as monks or clergy in choirs.

1 17

1 1 8

TALES

Conceived was the Fadres Sapience,1
Help me to telle it in thy reverence 1

Lady ! thy bountee, thy magnificence,

Thy vertu, and thy grete humilitee
5 Ther may no tonge expresse in no science ;

For somtyme, lady, er men praye to thee,

Thou goost biforn,2 of thy benignitee,

And getest us the light, thurgh thy preyere,

To gyden us unto thy Sone so dere.

io My conning is so wayk, o blisful quene,

For to declare thy grete worthinesse,

That I ne may the weighte nat sustene,

But as a child of twelf monthe old, or lesse,

That can unnethes 8 any word expresse,

1 5 Right so fare I ; and therfor I yow preye,

Gydeth my song that I shal of yow seye.

The Tale

Ther was in Asie, in a greet citee,

Amonges Cristen folk, a Jewerye,4
Sustened by a lord of that contree
20 For foule usure and lucre of vilanye,

Hateful to Crist and to his companye ;

And thurgh the strete men mighte ryde or wende,

For it was free, and open at either ende.

A litel scole of Cristen folk ther stood
25 Doun at the ferther ende, in which ther were

Children an heep,5 yeomen of Cristen blood,

That lerned in that scole yeer by yere
Swich maner doctrine 6 as men used there,

This is to seyn, to singen and to rede,

30 As smale children doon in hir childhede.

1 Cf. i Cor. 1. 24 8 with difficulty 5 number

2 dost anticipate 4 ghetto, Jews’ quarter 6 kind of learning

CHAUCER, THE PRIORESS’ TALE

119

Among thise children was a widwes sone,

A litel clergeon,1 seven yeer of age,

That day by day to scole was his wone,2
And eek also, wheras 8 he saugh th’ image
Of Cristes moder, hadde he in usage,

As him was taught, to knele adoun and seye
His Ave Mane , as he goth by the weye.

Thus hath this widwe hir litel sone ytaught
Our blisful lady, Cristes moder dere,

To worshipe ay, and he forgat it naught,

For sely 4 child wol alday 5 sone lere 6 ;

But ay, whan I remembre on this matere,

Seint Nicholas stant ever in my presence,

For he so yong to Crist did reverence.

This litel child, his litel book lerninge,

As he sat in the scole at his prymer,7
He Alma Redemptoris herde singe,

As children lerned hir antiphoner 8 ;

And, as he dorste, he drough him ner9 and ner,
And herkned ay the wordes and the note,10
Til he the firste vers coude 11 al by rote.

Noght wiste he what this Latin was to seye,

For he so yong and tendre was of age ;

But on a day his felaw gan he preye
T’ expounden him this song in his langage,

Or telle him why this song was in usage ;

8 anthem-book

9 nearer

10 tune

11 knew

t choir-boy

2 custom

3 where

4 good

6 always

6 learn ; the line is a proverb

7 small prayer-book, from which

children were taught to read

17. The eleventh-century hymn 'Alma Redemptoris mater, quag pervia cceli,’
one of four antiphons addressed to the Virgin. It is used from the first Sunday
in Advent to the Feast of the Purification (February 2). It has been translated
by Cardinal Newman and others.

120

TALES

This preyde he him to construe and declare
Ful ofte tyme upon his knowes 1 bare.

His felaw, which that elder was than he,

Answerde him thus : ' This song, I have herd seye,
5 Was maked of our blisful lady free,

Hir to salue,2 and eek hir for to preye
To been our help and socour whan we deye.

I can no more expounde in this matere ;

I lerne song, I can 3 but smal grammere.’

' And is this song maked in reverence
Of Cristes moder ? ’ seyde this innocent ;

' Now certes, I wol do my diligence
To conne 4 it al, er Cristemasse is went ;

Though that I for my prymer shal be shent,5
And shal be beten thryes in an houre,

I wol it conne, our lady to honoured

His felaw taughte him homward prively,

Fro day to day, til he coude it by rote,

And than he song it wel and boldely
20 Fro word to word, acording with the note ;

Twyes a day it passed thurgh his throte —

To scoleward 6 and homward whan he wrente ;

On Cristes moder set was his entente.7

As I have seyd, thurghout the Jewerye
25 This litel child, as he cam to and fro,

Ful merily than wolde he singe, and crye
O alma Redemptoris evermo.8
The swetnes hath his herte perced so
Of Cristes moder, that, to hir to preye,

30 He can nat stinte9 of singing by the weye.

1 knees

2 greet
8 know

4 learn

5 disgraced

6 towards school

7 thought, mind

8 evermore

9 cease

CHAUCER, THE PRIORESS’ TALE

I 2 I

Our firste fo, the serpent Sathanas,

That hath in Jewes herte his waspes nest,

Up svval,1 and seide : ' O Hebraik peple, alias 1
Is this to yow a thing that is honest,2

That swich a boy shal walken as him lest 3 5

In your despyt, and singe of swich sentence,4
Which is agayn your lawes 5 reverence ? ’

Fro thennes forth the Jewes han 6 conspyred
This innocent out of this world to chace ;

An homicyde therto han they hyred, 10

That in an aley 7 hadde a privee place ;

And as the child gan forby for to pace,

This cursed Jew him hente 8 and heeld him faste,

And kitte 9 his throte, and in a pit him caste.

I seye that in a wardrobe 10 they him threwe 1 5

Wheras these Jewes purgen hir entraille.

O cursed folk of Herodes al newe,11
What may your yvel entente yow availle ?

Mordre wol out, certein, it wol nat faille ;

And namely ther 12 th’ onour of God shal sprede, 20

The blood out cryeth on your cursed dede.

' O martir, souded to 13 virginitee !

Now maystou singen, folwing ever in oon 14
The whyte Lamb celestial,’ quod she,

' Of which the grete evangelist, Seint John, 25

In Pathmos wroot, which seith that they that goon
Biforn this Lamb, and singe a song al newe,

That never, fleshly,18 wommen they ne knewe.’

1 swelled

2 honorable
8 it pleases

4 to such purport

5 due to your law

6 have
r alley
8 seized
2 cut

10 outhouse

11 made up of new Herods
42 especially where

13 confirmed in

14 without ceasing; cf. Rev. 14. 4

15 carnally

I 22

TALES

This povre widwe awaiteth al that night
After hir litel child, but he cam noght ;

For which, as sone as it was dayes light,

With face pale of 1 drede and bisy thoght,

She hath at scole and elleswher him soght,

Til finally she gan so fer espye 2
That he last seyn was in the Jewerye.

With modres 3 pitee in hir brest enclosed,

She gooth, as she were half out of hir minde,
To every place wher she hath supposed
By lyklihede hir litel child to finde ;

And ever on Cristes moder meke and kinde
She cryde, and atte laste thus she wroghte —
Among the cursed Jewes she him soghte.

She frayneth 4 and she preyeth pitously
To every Jew that dwelte in thilke5 6 place,

To telle hir if hir child wente oght forby.6
They seyde, ' Nay ’ ; but Jesu, of his grace,
Yaf7 in hir thought, inwith 8 a litel space,

That in that place after hir sone she cryde
Wher he was casten in a pit bisyde.

O grete God, that parfournest thy laude
By mouth of innocents, lo heer 9 thy might 1
This gemme of chastitee, this emeraude,

And eek of martirdom the ruby bright,

Ther 10 he with throte ycorven 11 lay upright,
He Alma Redemptons gan to singe
So loude that al the place gan to ringe.

The Cristen folk, that thurgh the strete wente,
In coomen, for to wondre upon this thing,

1 from

2 find out

3 mother’s

4 asks questions

5 that

6 had chanced to go by

’ gave

8 within

9 here
40 where
11 cut, slashed

CHAUCER, THE PRIORESS’ TALE

123

And hastily they for the provost 1 sente ;

He cam anon, withouten tarying,

And herieth 2 3 Crist that is of heven King,

And eek his moder, honour of mankinde ;

And, after that, the Jewes leet he binde.8 5

This child with pitous lamentacioun
Uptaken was, singing his song alway ;

And with honour of greet processioun
They carien him unto the nexte 4 * abbay.

His moder swowning by the here lay ; 10

Unnethe might the peple that was there
This newe Rachel8 bringe fro his bere.

With torment and with shamful deth echon 6

This provost dooth 7 thise Jewes for to sterve 8

That of this mordre wiste, and that anon ; 15

He nolde no swich cursednesse 9 observe.10

Yvel shal have, that yvel wol deserve ;

Therfor with wilde hors 11 he dide hem drawe,12
And after that he heng hem 13 by the lawe.

Upon his bere ay lyth 14 this innocent 20

Biforn the chief auter,18 whyl masse laste,

And after that, the abbot with his covent 16
Han sped hem for to burien him ful faste ;

And whan they holy water on him caste,

Yet spak this child, whan spreynd 17 was holy water, 25

And song : O alma Redemptoris mater !

This abbot, which that was an holy man —

As monkes been, or elles oghten be —

1 chief magistrate

2 praises

3 he caused to be bound

4 nearest

6 Cf. Matt. 2. 18

6 each one

7 causes

8 die

9 wickedness

10 favor

11 horses

42 had them drawn

13 them

14 lies

15 altar

!*> monks of the convent
1' sprinkled

124

TALES

This yonge child to conjure he bigan,

And seyde : ' O dere child, I halse 1 thee,

In vertu of the holy Trinitee,

Tel me what is thy cause for to singe,

Sith that thy throte is cut, to my seminge 2 ? ’

' My throte is cut unto my nekke-boon,’

Seyde this child, ' and, as by wey of kinde,3
I sholde have deyed, ye, longe tyme agoon ;

But Jesu Crist, as ye in bokes finde,

Wil that his glorie laste and be in minde ;

And, for the worship of his moder dere,

Yet may I singe O alma loude and clere.

This welle of mercy, Cristes moder swete,

I lovede alwey, as after my conninge 4 ;

And whan that I my lyf sholde6 forlete,

To me she cam, and bad me for to singe
This antem 6 verraily in my deyinge,

As ye han herd ; and, whan that I had songe,
Me thoughte she leyde a greyn upon my tonge.

Wherfor I singe, and singe I moot 7 certeyn
In honour of that blisful mayden free,

Til fro my tonge oftaken is the greyn ;

And afterward thus seyde she to me :

" My litel child, now wol I fecche thee
Whan that the greyn is fro thy tonge ytake ;

Be nat agast,8 I wol thee nat forsake.” ’

This holy monk — this abbot, him mene I — •
His tonge outcaughte, and took awey the greyn,
And he yaf up the goost ful softely.

1 implore

2 as it appears to me
8 nature

4 within the limits of my knowledge

5 ought to have

6 anthem

7 must

8 afraid

THE IMPRISONED WIFE

125

And whan this abbot had this wonder seyn,

His salte teres trikled doun as reyn,

And gruf 1 he fil al plat 2 upon the grounde,

And stille he lay as he had been ybounde.

The covent eek lay on the pavement 5

Weping, and herien Cristes moder dere ;

And after that they ryse, and forth ben went,

And toke awey this martir fro his bere,

And in a tombe of marbul-stones clere

Enclosen they his litel body swete ; 10

Ther 3 he is now, God leve 4 us for to mete.

O yonge Hugh of Lincoln,5 slayn also
With6 cursed Jewes, as it is notable —

For it nis but a litel whyle ago —

Preye eek for us, we sinful folk unstable, 15

That, of his mercy, God so merciable
On us his grete mercy multiplye,

For reverence of his moder Marye.

THE IMPRISONED WIFE

The Seven Sages of Rome , from which this story is taken, is the European
counterpart of the Oriental Book of Sindibad , ultimately, according to general
scholarly belief, of Indian origin. The Book of Sindibad exists in a number of
versions (Hebrew, Greek, Syriac, Persian, etc.), and the European Seven Sages
in many more, the latter being found in one or more forms in almost every
language of Europe. As late as 1892 a Lithuanian version was printed at
Plymouth, Pennsylvania.

How the Oriental outline of the story was carried westward is a matter of
conjecture. Since only four of the fifteen tales in the European collection are
similar to those in any Eastern versions, it has been supposed that the trans¬
mission was probably oral, and a crusader returning from the Holy Land has
been suggested as the possible transmitter. In any case, the most important
element borrowed from the East is the frame or general plan of a series of tales
told by seven wise men in defending a young prince against the accusations

1 face downward, groveling 8 where 6 Cf. Skeat’s note

2 flat 4 grant 8 by

126

TALES

of the queen, his stepmother, and the tales told by the queen in reply. Like the
frames of 7 he Arabian Nights, of Boccaccio’s Decameron, of Chaucer’s Cant.er-
buiy Tales, and of more modern groups, down to Longfellow’s Tales of a Wayside
Inn, this serves not only as a device by which to unite a number of tales, but also
to account in some measure for the general character of the tales themselves.

The following selection is from the Cottonian manuscript of the Middle
English version (British Museum Cotton Galba E. 9). This manuscript (appar¬
ently copied from a lost earlier one) has been dated as of the first third of the
fifteenth century. For a full discussion of dates and other details, and The
Seven Sages of Rome in general, see the edition by Killis Campbell (Ginn, 1907),
from which our text (including lines 3236-3726 of the poem), with certain
emendations and changes of punctuation, is taken.

Among the most interesting analogues and variants of our Inclusa- story
(which is not one of those found in the Oriental versions) are Plautus, Miles
Gloriosus (cf. Act 2); Boiardo, Orlando Innamorato 1.22; The Thousand
and One Nights, ed. Habicht, 11.140; Campbell, Popular Tales of the West
Highlands 1.281.

In kingdom of Hungery
Wond 1 a nobil knyght whylom,

A rightwis man and whise of dome.2
He dremyd fus opon a nyght,

5 pat he lufed a lady bryght,

Bot he ne wist in what contre
pat Be lady myght funden be.

Him thoght he knew hir wele bi kinde,

And wele he hopid he sold hir finde.

10 pat same time dremyd )>at ladi bright,

And thoght ]>at sho sold luf a knight ;

Bot sho wist noght of what land,

Ne in whate stede 3 he was dweland,4
Ne his name knew sho nathing ;

15 parfore made sho grete murnyng.

Opon |>e morn, )>e stori sayse,
pe knight toke horses and hernays,5
And went to seke J>at lady bright
pat him dremyd of ]>at nyght.

20 pat jomay unto him was hard,

1 dwelt

2 judgment

3 place

4 dwelling

5 armor

THE IMPRISONED WIFE

127

1 drooped

2 owned, possessed

3 bolted, locked

For he wist noght whederward
pat he sold tak ]>e redy way ;
parfore he drowped 1 night and day.

So he traveld monethes thre,

And no signe of hyr kowth he se ; 5

Bot wele in hert he hoped ay
pat he sold hir se sum day.

So fer ]>e knyght his way had nomen
pat into Hungeri es he cumen.

pare he findes a faire castele 10

Bi pe se-syde, wroght ful wele ;
parin stode a towre ful hee ;

Fairer saw he never with ee.

An erl wond in pat castele

pat aght2 pe lordship ilka dele. 15

With him he had a worthly wife,
pe fairest lady pat had lyfe.
pe erl was jeluse of pat lady ;

He sperid 3 hir in pe toure forpi 4 ;

Sho might noght out by day ne night, 20

To speke with swier 6 ne with knight.

In pat land was were 6 ful strang,

Of kinges and lordes, pat lasted lang.

pare come ridand pat nobil knight,

pat so had soght pe lady bright ; 25

He luked up unto pe toure,

And saw pe lady, white so 7 flowre,

Lig 8 in a window barred with stele,
pan in his hert he wist ful wele

pat pis lady was pe same 30

pat he had so dremyd of at hame.

He luked up unto pe toure,

And merily sang he of amowre."

4 for that reason, therefore
6 squire
6 war

7 as

8 lie

9 love

128

TALES

And when sho herd him so bigyn,
Unnethes might fiat ladi blyn 1
pat sho ne had cald him hir unto ;

Bot for hir lord sho durst noght do.

5 He sat biside under a tre,

At pe ches,2 a knyght and he.
pis knyght percayved pe erl pare.
Unto pe lady he mened8 na mare ;
Bot til 4 pe erl he rides ful right,
io And of his palfray down he lyght.

On his kne sone he him set,

And pe erl ful faire he gret ;

' Sir Erl,’ he said, ' I am a knight,
Out of my cuntre cumen for fight ;

15 peder ogayn dar I noght gane,

For a knight pare have I slane;
parfore, sir, if pi willes be,
pus am I cumen to dwel with pe.

My famen er ful steren 6 and stout ;
20 pai have destroyed my landes obout.’

pe erl said : ' So mot I pe,

Right so fares my famen with me ;

So pat I have no socoure
Bot pis castel and pis toure.

25 parfore, sir, pou ert welkum here;

Of swilk a man have I mystere 6 ;
And if pou wil me help trewly,

I sal pe gif grete mede forthy.’

' <^is, sir,’ he sayd, ' at my power,

30 Ay whils I my armes bere.’

With pe erl pus dwels pe knight,

A1 for luf of pe lady bryght.

par was na knight pat bare shelde

pat might so wele his wapen welde ;

1 restrain herself

2 chess

3 made moan

4 to

8 stem
6 need

THE IMPRISONED WIFE

129

1 foes

2 know

Thorgh strenkith of hand and Codes grace
He overcome al fe erles fase.1
pe erl him lufed and honord }>an
Mare fan any ofer man ;

He made hym steward of al his land,

And bad fe men bow til hys hand.

Sone efter fat, opon a day,
pe knyght allane went him to play,

Under fe toure whare fe lady was ;
pare he made him grete solace,
pe lady in a wyndow lay,

And saw fe knyght allane him play ;

A letter sone sho kest hym tyll,

Wharby he might wit 2 al hir will,
pe knight toke up fe parchemyne,

And red fe Franche ful fayre and fyne ;

And alsone als he red it had,

Was he never in hert so glad ;

By fat letter fe knight wele kend
pat his travayl was cumen till end.

Ful sare him langed to hyr at 3 ga,

Prevely, withowten ma ;

And wele he saw fat, by na gyn,4
Allane to hir myght he noght wyn 6 ;
par was bot a dur and a way,

And farof bare fe erl fe kay.

So on a day, with mylde worde,
pe knyght spekes unto hys lord,

And said : ' Sir, of fi gude grace,

I pray fe to gif me a place
Bifore fis towre, fat I may big 6
A litel place in for to lig,

And fat I mai my wonyng have
At myne ese if ge vowchesave.’

s to 6 succeed in going

4 device 6 build

3°

130

TALES

pe erl answerd him ful sone ;

' Sir, pi wil sal al be done ;

Big pe a hows at pi lykyng.’
pe knight him thanked of fat thing.

5 pe knight gat masons many ane,

And gert 1 pam hew ful faire frestane ;
A nobil hows fare gert he make
Ful sone for pe lady sake.

When it was wroght als it sold be,
io Bath of stane and als 2 of tre,

pan thoght he ever by whatkyn 8 gin
pat he moght to pe lady win.

Biside pare, in anoper town,

Was pare cumen a new masowm
1 5 pat soght had fra fer cuntre ;

Sotiler man might none be.
pe knyght unto pat mason sent ;

His messangers wigh[t]ly 4 war 5 went,
pai broght him to pe knyght in hy ;

20 He hailsed 6 him ful curtaysly.

pe knyght said : ' Mai I traist on pe,
For to tel my prevete
pat I have aghteld 7 for to do ? ’
pe mason sware grete athes him to
25 pat he sold [do] whatsom he wolde,

And never tel man on pis molde.8

He said : ' In pis toure, I tel pe,
Wons a lady pat lufes me,

And I luf hir wele at my might ;

3° Bot I may, nowper day ne night,

Til hir win ne with hir speke ;
parfore a hole behoves pe breke
In pis towre ful prevely,

pat no man wit bot pou and I ;

1 caused 4 speedily

2 also 6 were

8 what sort ©f ® saluted

7 purposed

8 earth

THE IMPRISONED WIFE

1 3 1

pat I may cum in prevete
Pinto J>e lady and sho to me.’

' Sertes, sir,’ said j>e mason sone,

' Als )>ou has said, it sal be done.’

Hastily he takes hys tole,1 5

And in )>e toure he made a hole,

pat )>e knight might cum ]>e ladi untill,

Night and day, at )>aire owyn will.

When ]>e lady wist of pis,

Hir thoght hir hert was ful of blis. 10

pe knight quit 2 wele J>e servise
Of pe mason for his quayntyse 8 :

He slogh him sone, fat ilk[e] day,

For fered4 pat he sold oght say.

And efterward, ful sone onane,5 15

Into J>e toure pe knight gan gane ;

Thurgh pe hole gan he pas,

Til he come whare )>e lady was.

Bitwene pam was grete joy and blis ;

In armes ful curtaysly pai kys. 20

Wele sho wist it was pat knyght
pat sho had dremyd of anyght.

Sho said : ' Sir, pou art welkum here.’

He said : ' Gramercy,6 lady dere.’

To hir he talde of his dremeing, 25

And sho him talde of pe same thing ;

And when pai wist it was sertayn,

Ayther of oper was ful fayn.

Sho lete him wirk pare al his will ;

And sepen he said pe lady untyll : 30

' Dame, I dar no lenger byde,

For herein may pou me noght hide.

And parfore, dame, have now goday ;

I sal cum ogayn when I may.’

1 tool

2 repaid

8 cunning, skill
4 fear

5 at once

6 many thanic?

1 32

TALES

J?e lady, at faire departyng,1
Gaf fe knight a gude gold ring,

And said : ' Sir, I pray to fe,

When }>ou sese pis, thinke on me.’

5 At2 fe lady fe ryng he tase,

And graythly 3 til f e hole he gase ;

J?e ring he put his fynger on,

And doun ogayn he hied him sone
Thurgh f e hole was made of stane :
io A meri man fe knight was ane.

]?e knyght went unto fe hall,

Unto fe erl and his menje 4 all ;
pe erl gert him sit ful nere,

And to hym made he meri chere.

15 Als fai spak of divers thing,

pe erl saw his whives ring
Opon fe knyghtes fynger bare ;

He had wonder how it was fare.

He wist wele far was none slike,5
20 Ne fat none might be made so like ;

And ever he thinkes in hert styll
How ani man might come her till.
Styl he held al in his thoght ;

Unto fe knyght he sayd right noght,
25 Bot up he rase bilyve onane ;

Unto his whife he thoght to gane,
For to wit whare hir ring was.
pe knight perzayved al fe case ;

He hies als fast als he may
3° Tite 6 until hys preve way.

pe erl hies to fe lady fre,

Bot f e knyght come lang or 7 he ;
Unto fe lady fe ring he cast,

1 parting, separation

2 from

8 quickly

4 retinue
6 such
6 quickly

7 before

THE IMPRISONED WIFE

133

And doun ogayn he hies him fast,
pe lady has }>e ring up hent ;

Sho wist ful wele |>an how it went ;

Sho did it in hir purs in horde,1

And sone jrarefter come hir lorde, 5

And with gude chere he gan hir glade,

And asked hyr what chere sho made.

Sho said sho myght have no solace,

So was sho presond in ]?at place

Fra he sight of alkins 2 men : 10

' How may I any kumforth ken ? ’

' Dame,’ said ]>e erl ful sone,

' For grete derenes es yt done,

And for I wil nane change }>i thoght.’

pe lady said : ' Sir, thinkes it noght ; 1 5

par es no knight in no cuntre

pat might change my luf fra J?e ;

And sen ge wil )>at it be ]>us,

At gowre lyking habide me bus,8

For o)>er cumforth kepe4 I nane 20

Bot of God and of gow allane.’

pe erl thoght jit on o}>er thing.

' Dame,’ he said, ' whare es Jn ring
pat I pe gaf of gold ful fyne ?

Lat me se it, leman myne.’ 25

pe lady answerd hym unto :

' Sir, what sal ge )>arwith do ?

Wene ge J>at it be oway
For® I were it noght ilk day?

Nai, sir, dredes gow never a dele, 30

For I sal geme 6 it wonder wele.’

' Dame,’ he sayd, ' for luf of me,

A sight farof ]>at I might se ;

And, sertes, I ask it for none ill.’

1 hoard

2 of every kind

8 it behooves me to abide
4 care for

6 because
6 care for

134

TALES

1 thought

2 surely
8 mass

Sho said : ' Sir, gladly at gowre will.’
Out of hir purs fe ring sho toke ;
pe lord gan graythly on hir loke.

' Lo ! sir,’ sho said, ' here is my ring.’

pe erl had mervail of pis thing,
pat it was [so] like, by syght,
pe ring fat he saw of his knight ;

Bot wele he hopid 1 and weterly 2
pat nane might win to fe lady,

Ne fat hir ring was noght hir fra,

Bot fat fai had bene like, fai twa.

He was wele solast of fat sight,

And fare he dwelled al fat night ;
pe lady bi hirself oft smyled,

And thoght fat he was wele bigild.
Opon fe morn fe knyght up rase,

And to fe kirk graythly he gase,
Goddes werkes fare for to wirk.

Sefen com fe erl unto fe kyrk ;

A mes 3 ful sone fan gert he sing,

In honowre of oure Hevyn-kyng.
pe erl sent fan hastily
Efter fe knyght of Hungery ;
pe knyght come sone fe erl untill,
pe erl said : ' Sir, if [fat] fou will,
pou sal wend to wod with me,

At 4 hunt, and solace for to se.’

pe knyght answerd wordes hende 5 :
’ Sir, to wod may I noght wende,

For me es cumen new tifand 6
pat makes me ful wele lykand,7
Fra my cuntre withowten lese 8 —
pat my frendes haves made mi pese

4 to

5 courteous

6 tidings

7 pleased

8 deception

THE IMPRISONED WIFE

135

For )>at knight pat I have slayn ;

And of )>ir 1 tipandes am I fayn.

And, sir, pir 2 tipandes es me broght
Bi my leman, pat has me soght
Heder out of myne awin cuntre.
parfore, sir, if jowre wil be,

^is day I pray jow with me ete,

And se my leman at )>e mete,

And for to make cumforth hir till.’
pe erl said : ' Gladly I will
Do al ]>e comforth pat I can
Bath to pe and pi leman ;

Whenso pou will, send e£ter me,

And smertly 3 sal I cum to pe.’

pan went pe erl to his solace,

Unto pe wod to mak his chace;

And pe knight went sone onane,

And ordand 4 mete and drink gud wane.3
His hows he dight6 on gude aray ;

And smertly pan he toke pe way
Unto pe lady faire and bright,

And gert pat sho war gayly dyght
In gold garmentes, richely wroght,

And talde hir al how he has thoght
pat ilk day sho and hir lord
Sold bath togeder et7 of a bord,

And how hir lord sold understand
pat sho war cumen out of fer land.
Down he broght hir til his hows
Hamely,8 als sho war his spows ;

Bot hir garmentes war al new,
pat no man in pat cuntre knew.

Opon hir fingers gert he done

3°

1 these

2 MS. pis

3 quickly ; MS. smeretly

4 ordered

5 quantity

6 fitted out

7 eat

* familiarly

136

TALES

Gold ringes ful many one ;

Hir hed was gayly dubed 1 and dyght
With gerlands al of gold ful bright ;

So out of kenyng 2 he hir broght
5 pat hir lord pan knew hir noght.

Fra hunting come pe erl in hi 3 ;
pe knyght him keped 4 ful curtaisly,

And til his hows he led him pan
For to ett with his leman.

10 Redy was ordaynd and dyght

Mete and drink for mani a knight.

Unto pe bord pe erl es set,

And his whif, with him to et.
pe knight said : ' pis es my leman;

15 Makes hir comforth if je can.’

pe erl bad sho sold be blith,

And he biheld hir mony a syth 5 ;

And wonder in his hert had he
How pat it so myght be
20 pat any lady in pis life

Might be so like his owin wyfe.
pe lady praied him blith to be,

And ett gladly, par charite.
pe erl bad hir also be glad,

25 And loked on hir als he war mad ;

Bot he thoght pe towre was so strang
pat pare myght no man do him wrang,

Ne pat his whif might noght cum doun ;
parfore trowed he no tresowne.

3° He thoght : ' Oft sythes bifalles slike,6

pat mani wemen er oper like,

Als was pe ring of gold fyne
pat I wend wele had bene myne.’

1 decorated 3 haste 5 time

2 recognition 4 received 6 happen such things

THE IMPRISONED WIFE

137

1 make

2 whence
8 loyalty

pus J>e erl left all his care ;

Of ]>is mater he thinkes no mare.

pan said )>e knight on ]ns manere
Unto )>e erl : ' Sir, mase 1 gude chere.’
pe erl said : ' Sir, I )>e pray, 5

pe sertan soth )>at )>ou me say
Whe]>in 2 es pis faire lady
pat }>ou has set at met me by ? ’
pe knight said : ' Sir, bi my lewte,8
Sho es cumen fra myne awyn cuntre ; 10

Sho es my leman ]>at has me soght,

And new tithandes sho haves me broght :

Mi pese es made for evermare
For ])e knight ]>at I slogh ]>are,

So ]>at I may wend hardily 15

Hame ogayn my pese to cri ;

And )>arfore wil I with hir wende,

For to speke with ilka frende.’

' Sir, sekerly,’ said pe erl ]>an,

' Me think )>ou has a fayre leman.’ 20

Whan ]>ai had etyn and dronken inoghe,
pai toke up mete, and clathes drogh.4
When }>e erl liked to gane,

He toke leve at 6 jre knyghtes leman ;

And hastily when he was went, 25

pe knight and ]?e lady gent
Sone did of 6 ]?e riche aray
pat pai had done on 7 pat day ;

Hir awyn robe sone did pai on,

And dighted hir als sho was won.8 30

And pan sho toke pe preve sty9
Into }>e toure ful hastily ;

* cleared the table
6 of

6 took off

7 put on

8 accustomed

9 ascent

138

TALES

pe knight gan playnly with hir pas
Until sho in hir chamber was.

And unnethes was ]>e knyght went out
When pe erl was gane obowt 1 ;

5 Unto )>e toure he takes pe way

Als hastily als ever he may ;
pare he Andes his lady,

Keped him ful curtaysely.

pan was pe erl in hert ful glad
io When he wist pat he hir had.

Him thoght jit 2 sho was like fully
To pe lady fat sat him by.
pave pe erl dwelled al nyght,

And laiked 3 him with his lady bright.

15 pat night pai wroght what paire wils ware;

And on pat wise 4 pai met na mare.
Herkens now, how it bifell :

On pis maner stode pat castell,
pat pe se ran fast byside ;

20 Many gode shippes gan pare bide.

Whils pe erl of grete honowre
Lay with pe lady in pe towre,
pe knight ordand a ship of sail,

And gert bere peder gude vetaille 5 ;

25 Al his gode 6 peder gert he bere,

Gold and silver and oper gere.

On pe morn pe erl forth gase,

And left his lady in pat place.

Until pe kirk pan went he sone
30 And herd his mes als he was wone ;

And when he to pe kirk was gane,
pe knyght went to pe towre onane,

And down he broght pe fayre lady

1 had started to go

2 yet, nevertheless

3 sported

4 in that manner

8 provisions
6 property

THE IMPRISONED WIFE

139

1 off

2 glittering

Into his hows ful prevely.

And of 1 |>ai toke ]>e clathes sone

pat }’e lady had hir on ;

pai dight hir in pe garmentes gay

J>at sho had on pat o|>er day ; 5

With gerlandes and with gleterand 2 thing

Was sho made out of knawyng.

When al was done als it sold be,

Unto Jte erl, his lord, went he.

' Sir,’ he sayd, ' I wald fe pray ’ 10

Of a ded ]ns ilk day :

J>at }>ou wil gif me with pi hand
My leman, or 8 I pas pi lond,
pat I mai wed hir to my whife ;

For with hir wil I lede my lyfe.’ 15

He sayd he thoght to wed hir fan
pat had byfore ben his leman,

For luf of God and als for drede,

And for he sold ]>e better spede.

pe erl said : ' pat es gude scill,3 4 20

And als Jxm sais, syr, do I will.’

Sone pe erl cals knightes twa,

And bad fam sone }>at pai sold ga
And feche ]>e lady unto ]>e kirk.

pai war redy his wil to wirk ; 25

To kirk pai led pat faire lady.

A preste was revist 5 hastily.
pe erl come with meri chere,

Omang al )>at folk in fere.6

His owin lady he toke bylive 30

And gaf ]>e knyght until his wive ; •

pe prest fam weddes swith sone.

And als tite als }>e mes was done,

3 ere 6 hurried thither

4 reason 6 in company, together

TALES

pan was |>are made grete menestrelsy ;
And fe knight and his lady
Went ham forth with grete solas
To he ship whare his godes in was.
pe erl went with ham hartill ;
pe knight went yn with ful gude will.

pc lady stode still on he sand ;
pe erl toke hir by he hand,

And bad he knyght sold hir take,
Evermare to be his make.
pare he knyght toke )>e lady,

And said to )>e erl : ' Sir, gramercy
Of1 his and of1 al o)>er grace.’
pus of he erl hys leve he tase ;
pe wind blew, f>ai went haire way.
pus lost he erl his whife for ay ;

He gaf hir |>us he knyght to wed ;
parfore ful sari life he led.

When he knight was went with ]>e lady,
pe erl wendes hame hastily ;

Until he toure he way he tase,

To tel his lady how it was,

And how he had his knyght cunvayd 2 ;
He trowed noght how he was bitraid.
Until his toure )ms wendes he right,

For to speke with his lady bright.

Into he chamber8 gan he ga,

And loked obout, bath to and fra ;

He saw no syght of his lady ;
parfore sone he wex sary.

Of hir cowth he nothing here ;
pan he wepid with sari chere.

Unto himself he gan him mene4
pat al was soth als he had sene.

2 accompanied

8 MS. chameber

DAME SIRITH

141

]’an wist he it was his lady
pat at ]>e mete was set him by.
To wax wise |>an he bigan ;
parfore blamed him moni a man.

DAME SIRITH

Dame Sirith is preserved in Digby MS. 86, which has been assigned to a
date between 1272 and 1283, but by some as late as 1300.

With respect to the introduction of such fabliaux into England, Jusserand
says [Lit. Hist. Eng. People 1.225): '"Merry England” became acquainted
with every form of French mirth; she imitated French chansons, and gave a
place in her literature to French fabliaux. Nothing could be less congenial
to the Anglo-Saxon race than the spirit of the fabliaux. This spirit, however,
was acclimatized in England ; and, like several other products of the French
mind, was grafted on the original stock. The tree thus bore fruit which would
never have ripened as it did, without the Conquest. Such are the works of
Chaucer, of Swift perhaps, and of Sterne. The most comic and risque stories,
those same stories meant to raise a laugh which we have seen old women tell
at parlor windows, in order to cheer recluse anchoresses, were put into
English verse, from the thirteenth to the fifteenth century. Thus we find
under an English form such stories as the tale of " La Chienne qui pleure ”
[Dame Sirith ],’ etc.

With respect to Dame Sirith, Ker says ( English Literature : Medieval,
p. 172): 'This is far above the ordinary level of such things; it is a shame¬
ful practical joke, but there is more in it than this; the character of Dame
Sirith, in her machinations to help the distressed lover of his neighbour’s
wife, is such as belongs to comedy and to satire, not to the ordinary vulgar
" merry tale.” ’

The germ of the story has been traced back to India, where a belief in
metempsychosis is prevalent, and thence passes on to the Persian ( Book of
Sindibad), the Arabic (see Clouston’s Book of Sindibad, pp. 162 ff.) and the
Hebrew (Mischle Sindbad, tr. Cassel, pp. 268 ff.). About 1100 it is found
in the Disciplina Clericalis of Petrus Alphonsus, a converted Spanish Jew,
with which compare Gesta Romanorum, chap. 28 (of the Latin). The English
version here printed bears a rather close resemblance to that in the Greek
Syntipas (ed. Eberhard, Fabula Romanenses Greece Conscriptce, Leipzig, 1879).
For other versions, and the transmission of the story in general, see Matzner,
Alte7iglische Sprachproben 1. 103-5; Eisner, Untersiuhungen zu dem Mittel-
englischen Fabliau 'Dame Siriz,’ Berlin, 1877; McKnight, Middle English
Humorotcs Tales in Verse (Boston, 1913), pp. xxi-xxxvii, 83-5.

This tale has many points of resemblance with a fragmentary interlude
printed below (pp. 477-80). It has been conjectured that both have a common

142

TALES

source in an interlude now lost (see Ileuser, in Anglia , Vol. 30, and McKnight,
pp. xxxviii-ix).

The name of the old woman is sometimes found in the manuscript as Siriz
(147 25, 148 4, 157 6,8) and sometimes as Siri/> (150 7, 15 1 28, 153 1), but the
rhymes show that the latter is undoubtedly correct (151 28 ; cf. 148 4) ; w//>
is similarly written wiz (148 5).

Ci comence le fablel et la cointise de Dame Siriz

As I com bi an waie,

Hof 1 on ich herde saie,

Ful modi 2 mon and proud ;

Wis he wes of lore,

5 And gouplich 3 under gore,4

And eloped in fair sroud.5

To lovien he bigon
On 6 wedded wimmon —
perof he hevede wrong ;

10 His herte hire 7 wes alon,

pat reste nevede 8 he non,
pe love wes so strong.

Wei jerne 9 he him bipoute 10
Hou he hire gete moute,11
45 In ani cunnes 12 wise.18

pat befel on an day
]7e loverd wend away
Hon his marchaundise.14

t of

2 haughty
8 goodly
4 raiment
6 apparel
6 a

He wente him to pen inne
]7er 16 hoe 16 wonede inne,
pat wes riche won 17 ;

7 to her

8 had not

9 intently

10 considered

11 might

12 kind

78 way

14 trafficking

15 where
18 she

17 dwelling

DAME SIRITH

And com into pen halle,

]?er hoe wes srud 1 wip palle,2 3
And ]>us he bigon :

[ Wilekiri\ ' God almijtten be herinne ! ’

[- Margeri ] ' Welcome, so ich ever bide winne8 ! ’
Quod pis wif.

' His hit4 5 pi wille, com and site,

And wat is pi wille let me wite,

Mi leve lif.

Bi houre Loverd, hevene King,
If I mai don ani ping
pat pe is lef,

J?ou migtt finden me ful fre ;
Fol blepeli will I don for pe,
Wiphouten gref.’

[ Wilekin\ ' Dame, God pe forgelde 6 1

Bote on pat 6 pou me nout bimelde,7
Ne make pe wrop,

Min hernde 8 will I to pe bede 9 ;
Bote wrappen 10 pe for ani dede 11
Were me lop.’

[. Margeri ’] ' Nai, iwis, Wilekin !

For noping pat ever is min,
pau 12 pou hit girne,18
Houncurteis 14 ne will I be ;

Ne con 15 I nout on 16 vilte,17
Ne nout I nelle lerne.

1 clothed

2 rich cloth

3 expect (eternal) happiness ;

MS. wenne

4 if it is

5 repay

6 on condition that

7 betray

8 errand

9 make known

10 anger

11 in any way

12 though
18 desire
14 discourteous
18 know
16 of

77 churlishness

144

TALES

pou mai[j]t saien al |>ine wille,

And I shal herknen and sitten stille,
J>at 1 pou have told.

And if pat fou me tellest skil,2
I shal don after }n wil —

J?at be Jtou bold.3

And }>au J>ou saie me ani same,4 5
Ne shal I j?e nouijt blame
For pi sawe.6 ’

[ Wilekiii\ ' Nou Ich have wonne leve,6
£\i pat I }>e 7 shulde greve,

Hit were hounlawe.8

Certes, dame, bou seist as hende,9
And I shal setten spel 10 on ende,
And tellen )>e al —

Wat Ich wolde, and wi Ich com ;
Ne con Ich saien non falsdom,

Ne non I ne shal.

Ich habbe iloved ]?e moni jer,

£>au Ich nabbe nout ben her
Mi love to schowe.

Wile )>i loverd is in toune,

Ne mai no mon wi]> J)e holden roune 11
Wi|) no )>ewe.12

^urstendai 18 Ich herde saie,
As Ich wende bi he waie,

Of oure sire 14 ;

1 till

2 what is reasonable

3 confident, certain

4 shame

5 speech

6 gained permission

7 MS. me

8 wrong

9 a courteous one

10 discourse

11 secret talk

12 propriety
18 yesterday

14 lord, good man

DAME SIRITH

145

Me 1 tolde me ]>at he was gon
To ]>e feire of Botolfston2
In Lincolneschire.

And for Ich weste 8 ]>at he wes 4 houte,
parfore Ich am I igon aboute
To speken wi]> ])e.

Him bur]) 5 to liken wel his lif,
pat mijtte welde 6 secc 7 a wif 8
In privite.

Dame, if hit is ])i vville,

Bo]) dernelike9 and stille
Ich wille ]>e love.’

[Margert] ' pat wold I don for non ])in[g],

Bi houre Loverd, hevene King,
pat ous is hove 10 !

Ich habe mi loverd ]>at is mi spouse,
pat maiden broute me to house
Mid menske 11 inou 12 ;

He love]) me and Ich him wel,

Oure love is also trewe as stel,
Wiphouten wou.18

pau he be from horn on his hernde,
Ich were ounseli,14 if Ich lernede
To ben on 18 hore.
pat ne shal nevere be,
pat I shal don selk falsete,

On bedde ne on flore ;

1 one, they

2 Boston (St. Botolph’s town)
8 knew

4 MS. ves

5 behooveth

8 possess
7 such

11 honor

12 enow, enough

8 MS. vif

9 secretly
1° above

18 wrong
14 wicked
is a

146

TALES

Never more his lifwile,1
Thau he were on hondred mile
Bigende Rome,

For no )>ing ne shuld I take
5 Mon on er)>e to ben mi make,2

Ar8 his hom-come.’

[ Wilekiri\ ' Dame, dame, torn 4 }>i mod 6 ;
pi curteisi was ever god,

And get shal be ;

IO For )>e Loverd ]>at ous have)) wrout,

Amend )>i mod, and tom }>i |>out,

And rew 6 on me.’

[ Margeri~\ ' We,7 we I [h] oldest |)Ou me a fol ?

So Ich ever mote biden <^ol,8
15 pou art ounwis.

Mi Jiout ne shalt ]>ou never9 wende ;
Mi loverd is curteis mon and hende,
And mon of pris ;

And Ich am wif bope god and trewe ;
20 Trewer womon mai10 no mon cnowe

pen Ich am.

pilke time shal 11 never bitide
pat mon, for wouing ne )>oru prude,12
Shal do me scham.’

25 [ Wilekin\ ' Swete levmon,13 merci 1

Same ne vilani
Ne bede I )>e non ;

1 lifetime

2 mate
8 ere

4 change
6 mind

6 have compassion

7 alas

8 Yule, Christmas

9 MS. newer

10 MS. ne mai

n MS. ne shal
42 pride

48 MS. lenmon, or leumon (?)

DAME SIRITH

147

Bote deme love I ]>e bede,

As mon ]>at wolde of love spede,

And fi[n]de won.1 ’

\Margen\ ' So bide Ich evere mete o)>er drinke,

Her }>ou lesest al )>i swinke.2
pou migt gon horn, leve broker,

For [ne] wille Ich pe love, ne non o]>er
Bote mi wedde houssebonde ;

To tellen hit ]>e ne wille Ich wonde.8 ’

[ Wi1ekhi\ ' Certes, dame, pat me for)?inke|> 4 5 ;

An[d] wo is ]?e mon pa[t] muchel swinke)?,
And at ]>e laste lese]> his sped !

To maken menis s his 6 him ned ;

Bi7 me I saie [hit] ful iwis,
pat love ]>e — love )>at I shal mis.

An[d], dame, have nou godne dai !

And pilke Loverd )>at al welde 8 mai

Leve9 pat ]>i )>out so tourne

pat Ich 10 for )?e no leng11 ne mourne.’

Drerimod 12 he wente awai,

And )>oute bo)>e ni^t and dai
Hire al for to wende.

A frend him radde 18 for to fare —

And leven al his muchele kare —

To Dame Sirip 14 ]>e hende.

]?ider he wente him anon,

So sui)?e 15 so he migtte gon,

No mon he ni mette.

1 joy 6 is

2 toil 7 about

8 hesitate, fear 8 wield

4 I am sorry for that 9 grant

5 moans 10 MS. I he

11 longer

12 sad in heart

13 counseled

14 MS. Siriz

15 quickly

148

TALES

Ful he wes of tene 1 and treie 2 ;
Mid wordes milde and eke sleie8

Faire he hire grette.

[ Wilekin\ ' God pe iblessi, Dame Sirip 4 !

Ich am icom to speken pe with,6
For ful muchele nede ;

And 6 Ich mai have help of pe,
pou shalt have, fat pou shalt se,
Ful riche mede.’

\Sirith\ ' Welcomen art pou, leve sone ;

And if Ich mai oper cone 7
In eni wise for pe do,

I shal strengpen me perto ;

Forpi,8 leve sone, tel pou me
Wat pou woldest I dude for pe.’

[ Wile kin'] ' Bote, leve nelde,9 ful evele I fare ;

I lede mi lif wip tene and kare ;

Wi}> muchel hounsele 10 ich lede mi lif,
And pat is for on suete wif
pat heijtte Margeri.

Ich have iloved hire moni dai,

And of hire love hoe seiz me nai ;

Hider Ich com forpi.

Bote-if 11 hoe wende hire mod,

For serewe 12 mon 18 Ich wakese 14 wod,
Oper miselve quelle.15
Ich hevede ipout miself to slo 16 ;

Forpen 17 radde 18 a frend me go
To pe, mi sereue telle.

8 shrewd

4 MS. Siriz

5 MS. wiz

6 if

1 vexation

2 grief

7 or know how to (can)

8 therefore

9 old lady

10 misfortune

18 must

14 grow, wax

15 destroy
18 slay

17 therefore

18 advised

11 unless

12 sorrow

DAME SIRITH

149

He saide me, wiphouten faille
pat )>ou me coupest helpe and vaile,1
And bringen me of wo,
poru pine crafftes and pine dedes ;

And Ich wile jeve pe riche mede[s],

Wip ]>at 2 hit be so.’

\Sirith ] ' Benedicite be herinne 8 !

Her havest pou, sone, mikel sinne.4
Loverd, for his suete name,5
Lete pe perfore haven no shame 6 !
pou servest affter Godes grame,7
Wen pou seist on me silk 8 blame ;

For Ich am old and sek and lame ;
Seknesse have]? maked me ful tame.
Blesse pe, blesse pe, leve knave,9
Leste }>ou mesaventer have
For pis lesing 10 pat is founden 11
Oppon me, pat am harde ibo[u]nden !

Ich am on holi wimon,

On wicchecrafft nout I ne con,

Bote wip gode men[s] almesdede
like dai mi lif I fede,

And bidde mi Pater Noster and mi Crede,
pat Goed hem helpe at hore 12 nede
pat helpen me mi lif to lede,

And leve pat hem mote wel spede.

His lif and his soule worpe ishend 13
pat pe to me pis hernde havep send ;

1 avail, assist 4 sin ; MS. senne

2 provided that 6 MS. nome

8 blessing be herein = God 8 MS. shome

save us (an exclamation 7 anger ; MS. grome

of surprise) 8 such

7. Fliigel (Matzke Mem. Vol., p. 95) prefers 'Benedicite!

understanding ' God ’ as the subject of (opt. or imp.) ' be.’

9. Note the six rhyming lines, like the six below (21-26).

9 boy

10 lie

11 invented

12 their

18 disgraced

be herinne ! ’

TALES

150

And leve me to ben iwreken 1
On him pis shome me have)) speken.’

[ Wilekin\ ' Leve nelde, bilef 2 al pis ;

Me |)inkej) ]>a[t] )>ou art onwis.

J>e mon pat me to ])e taute,8
He weste pat pou hous 4 coupest saute.6
Help, Dame Sirip, if )>ou maut,6
To make me wi|) )>e sueting saut,

And Ich wille geve )>e gift ful stark 7 :
Moni a pound and moni a rnarke,

Warme pilche 8 and warme shon,

Wi]> pat min hernde be wel don.

Of muchel godlec 9 mijt |>ou Jtelpe,10
If hit be so pat pou me helped

\_Strith\ ' Lij me nout, Wilekin, bi pi leute.11

Is hit pin hemest 12 ))ou tekest 18 me ?
Lovest ])0u wel Dame Margeri ? ’

[ Wilekin ] ' ^ e , nelde, witerli,14

Ich hire love ! Hit mot me spille 18
Bote ich gete hire to mi willed

\Sirith\ ' Wat, god Wilekin, me rewe]> pi scape 16 ;
Houre Loverd sende pe help rape 17 !

Weste Hie hit mi^tte ben forholen,18
Me wolde punche wel solen 19
}ri wille for to fellen.20
Make me siker wip word on honde

1 avenged

2 leave

8 directed
4 us

6 reconcile, bring to terms
8 canst

7 strong, large

8 fur garments

9 goodness, benefit

10 boast

11 loyalty

12 earnest
18 teachest

44 truly, certainly

15 destroy, ruin

16 harm

47 soon (early)

18 concealed

19 proper (solemn)

20 MS. fullen

DAME SIRITH

151

J^at pou wolt helen,1 and I wile fonde 2
If Ich mai hire tellen.

For al pe world ne wold I nout
pat Ich were to chapitre 8 ibrout
For none selke 4 werkes.

Mi jugement were sone igiven —

To ben wip shome somer-driven 5
Wip 6 prestes and with clarkes.’

[ IVilekin ] ' Iwis, nelde, ne wold I
pat pou hevedest vilani
Ne shame, for mi goed.

Her I pe mi troupe plijtte,

Ich shal helen bi 7 mi mijtte,

Bi pe holi roed ! ’

'Welcome, Wilekin, hiderward !

Her havest imaked a foreward 8
pat pe mai ful wel like,
pou maijt9 blesse julke sip,10
For pou maijt make pe ful blip;

Dar 11 pou namore sike.12

To goderhele 13 ever come pou hider,
For sone will I gange pider,

And maken hire hounderstonde.

I shal kenne 14 hire sulke a lore
pat hoe shal lovien pe mikel more
pen ani mon in londe.’

[ Wilekin\ ' Al so hav I Godes grip,15

Wel havest pou said, Dame Sirip,

And goderhele shal ben pin.

1 conceal (it)

2 try

8 ecclesiastical court
4 such

6 sumpter-driven (slung
on a pack-animal) ?

6 by 12 sigh

7 according to 18 for good fortune

8 agreement 14 make known, teach

9 mayst 16 peace

1° this opportunity

11 needest (= bar, from OE. frearf)

152

TALES

Have her twenti shiling :

J?is Ich geve fe to meding,1
To buggen 2 fe sep 8 and swin.’

\Sirith\ ' So Ich evere brouke 4 hous of er flet,6
5 Neren never penes 6 beter biset

J?en fes shulen ben.

For I shal don a juperti,7
And a ferli 8 maistri 9 ;

pat fou shalt ful wel sen. —

io [To her dog\ Pepir 10 nou shalt fou ete,11

pis mustart shal ben fi mete,

And gar 12 fin eien to renne 18 ;

I shal make a lesing
Of fin heie-renning,

15 Ich wot wel wer and wenne.’

[ Wilekin\ ' Wat ! nou const fou no god ?

Me finkef fat fou art wod.

Revest fo fe welpe 14 mustard ? ’

[Sirit/i] ' Be stille, boinard 15 !

20 I shal mit 16 f is ilke gin 17

Gar hire love to ben al fin.

Ne shal ich never have reste ne ro 18
Til ich have told hou fou shalt do.
Abid me her til min hom-come.’

25 [Wilekin] ' ^us,19 bi fe somer blome,20

Hef en 21 null I ben binomen,22
Til fou be agein comen.’

1 reward

9 trick

17 contrivance

2 buy

10 MS. pepis

18 quiet

8 sheep

11 MS. eten

19 yes

4 enjoy

12 make

20 bloom

6 hall (lit. floor)

18 run ; MS. rene

21 hence

6 pence

44 whelp

22 taken away

7 venture

15 fool

8 wondrous

I® with

DAME SIRITH

153

Dame Siri)> bigon to go

As a wrecche ]>at is wo,

pat 1 hoe come hire to ]>en inne 2

per ]>is gode wif wes inne.

po hoe to he dore com, 5

Swi]?e reuliche 3 hoe bigon :

[. Sirith ] ' Loverd,’ hoe sei]?, ' wo is holde 4 wives,
pat in poverte lede]? ay [hore] 5 lives ;

Not 6 no mon so muchel of pine
As poure wif )>at falle|> in ansine 7;
pat mai ilke mon bi me wite,

For mai I nou)?er gange ne site ;

Ded wold I ben ful fain.

Hounger and furst me have)? nei slain ;

Ich ne mai mine limes onwold,8 1 5

For mikel hounger and )>urst and cold.

Warto liveth selke a wrecche ?

Wi nul 9 Goed mi soule fecche ? ’

\_Margeri^\ ' Seli 10 wif, God ]>e hounbinde 11 1

To dai wille I )>e mete finde, 20

For love of Goed.

Ich have reu]?e of }?i wo,

For evele iclo]?ed I se ]?e go,

And evele ishoed ;

Com herin, Ich wile ]?e fede.’ 25

\_Sirith~\ ' Goed almigtten do )?e mede,

And )?e Loverd }?at wes on rode idon,12
And faste fourti daus 18 to non,14
And hevene and erj?e have]? to welde,

As |?ilke Loverd he forgelde.15 ’ 30

until

dwelling

piteously

old

See 149

6 knows not

7 want

8 control

9 will not
10 good

11 unbind, pardon

12 destroyed
18 days

14 noon

15 requite

154

TALES

[Margeri] ' Have her fles 1 and eke bred,

And make pe glad, hit is mi red 2 ;

And have her pe coppe wip pe drinke ;
Goed do pe mede for pi swinke.’

5 penne spac fat holde wif —

Crist awarie 3 hire lif ! —

\Sirith\ ' Alas 1 alas 1 pat ever I live !

A1 pe sunne Ich wolde forgive
pe mon pat smite of 4 min heved 1
io Ich wolde mi lif me were bireved ! ’

[Margeri] ' Seli wif, what eillef* pe ? ’

[Sirith] ' Bote epe 5 mai I sori be :

Ich hevede a douter feir and fre,6
Feiror ne mijtte no mon se.

15 Hoe hevede a curteis hossebonde,

Freour 7 mon mijtte no mon fonde.8
Mi douter lovede him al to wel ;
Forpi9 mak I sori del.10
Oppon a dai he was out wend,

20 And parporu 11 wes mi douter shend.

He hede on ernde out of toune ;

And com a modi 12 clarc wip croune,18
To mi douter his love beed,

And hoe nolde nout folewe his red.

25 He ne mijtte his wille have,

For no )>ing he mijtte crave ;
penne bigon ]>e clerc to wiche,14
And shop 15 mi douter til a biche.

}>is is mi douter pat Ich of speke ;

1 flesh, meat

2 advice

3 curse
* Off

5 easily

6 noble

7 nobler

8 search out

8 on this account
1° lament

11 by this means, thereby

12 proud

13 tonsure

14 use witchcraft

15 transformed (shaped)

DAME SIRITH

155

For del of hire min herte breke.

Loke hou hire heien greten,1

On hire cheken ]>e teres meten.2

Forjh, dame, were hit no wonder,

pau min herte burste assunder. 5

A[nd] wose ever is jong houssewif,

Ha 3 love)> ful luitel hire lif,

And 4 eni clerc of love hire bede,

Bote0 hoe grante, and lete him spede.’

\Margert\ ' A, Loverd Crist ! wat mai [I] penne do ? 10

pis enderdai 6 com a clarc me to,

And bed 7 me love on his manere,

And Ich him nolde nout ihere.

Ich trouue he wolle me forsape.8

Hou troustu,9 nelde, Ich moue ascape ? ’ 15

\_Sirith~\ ' God almijtten be pin help

pat pou ne be nouper bicche ne welp !

Leve dame, if eni clerc
Bedep pe pat love-werc,

Ich rede pat pou grante his bone,10 20

And bicom his lefmon sone.

And if pat pou so ne dost,

A worse red pou ounderfost.11 ’

\Margeri\ ' Loverd Crist, )>at me is wo,

pat pe clarc me hede 12 fro 25

Ar he me hevede biwonne !

Me were levere pen ani fe 18
That he hevede enes 14 leien bi me,

And efftsones 15 bigunne.

6 the other day

7 offered

8 transform

9 thinkest thou, believest thou

10 request (boon)

11 receivest, takest

12 went

18 property
14 once
45 again

t shed tears
2 meet
8 she

4 if

5 unless

8. of: the verb takes the genitive of the thing besought in OE.

156

TALES

Evermore, nelde, ich wille be fin,

Wif fat 1 fou feche me Willekin,

J?e clarc of warn I telle ;

Giftes will I geve fe

pat fou maijt ever fe betere be,

Bi Codes houne belle ! ’

\Sirith\ ' Sofliche, mi swete dame,

And if I mai wifhoute blame,

Fain Ich wille ffonde ;

And if Ich mai wif him mete
Bi eni wei ofer bi strete,

Nout ne will I wonde.2

Have god dai, dame ! forf will I go.’

[Margeri] ' Allegate 8 loke fat fou do so
As Ich fe bad ;

Bote fat fou me Wilekin bringe,

Ne mai [I] never lawe4 ne singe,

Ne be glad.’

\Sirith\ ' Iwis, dame, if I mai,

Ich wille bringen him jet to-dai,

Bi mine mijtte.’

Hoe wente hire to hire inne,

Her hoe founde Wilekinne,

Bi houre Drijtte 5 !

\Sirith\ ' Swete Wilekin, be fou nout dred,

For of fin her[n]de Ich have wel sped.
Swife com for[f] fider wif me,

For hoe havef send affter fe ;

3 in every way, by all means

4 laugh

1 provided that

2 hesitate

5 our Lord

6 belle: sacring bell, used in the mass; see Seven Sages (Percy Soc. 1 6),
1. 2285 : ' By Goddis belle.’

DAME SIRITH

157

Iwis nou maijt pou ben above,

For pou havest grantise1 of hire love.’

[ IVi/ekin] ' God pe forjelde, leve nelde,

pat hevene and erpe havep to welde ! ’

pis modi mon bigon to gon 5

Wip Sirip 2 to his levemon
In pilke stounde.3
Dame Sirip 2 bigon to telle,

And swor bi Codes ouene belle,

Hoe hevede him founde. 10

\Stritfi] ' Dame, so have ich Wilekin sout,

For nou have Ich him ibrout.’

[Margeri] ' Welcome, Wilekin, swete ping,
pou art welcomore pen pe king.

Wilekin pe swete, 15

Mi love I pe bihete,

To don al pine wille.

Turnd Ich have mi pout,

For I ne wolde nout

pat pou pe shuldest spilled 20

[ Wilekiri\ ' Dame, so Ich evere bide noen,4
And Ich am redi and iboen 5
To don al pat pou saie.

Nelde, par ma fai ! 6

J?ou most gange awai, 25

Wile Ich and hoe shulen plaie.’ . . .7

1 grant 4 noon 7 One stanza omitted

2 MS. Siriz 8 ready, prepared

3 moment 6 by my faith

158

TALES

[, Sirith\ ' And wose is onwis,

And for non pris

Ne con geten his levemon,
I shal, for mi mede,

5 Garen him to spede,

For ful wel I con.’

ROBIN HOOD AND THE MONK

This poem, though unmistakably a ballad, tells a story, and is therefore
here classed as a tale, though perhaps it has nearly equal claim to be called
a romance. It is one of the few ballads of whose early date we are assured,
the manuscript being of about 1450. It is No. 119 of Child’s great collection
(3. 94-101) ; see also Sargent and Kittredge’s edition in one volume, pp. 282-6.
I omit stanzas 30-8, 53-66, both inclusive, and the end, stanzas 83-90. There
is an unfortunate break after the first two lines of stanza 30, due to the loss
of a sheet of the manuscript.

What Gummere says of ballads in general (Camb. Hist. Eng. Lit. 2.474;
the whole chapter should be read) is true of this in particular: 'They give a
hint of primitive and unspoiled poetic sensation. . . . They can tell a good
tale. They are fresh with the open air; wind and sunshine play through them.’
For myself, I may add that the two opening stanzas of this ballad seem to me
of peculiar loveliness.

In somer, when ]>e shawes 1 be sheyne,2
And leves be large and long,

Hit is full mery in feyre foreste
10 To here ]>e foulys song ;

To se )>e dere draw to ]>e dale,

And leve ]>e hilles hee,

And shadow hem in ]>e leves grene,

Under the grenewode tre.

15 Hit befel on Whitsontide,

Erly in a May mornyng,

The son up feyre can 3 shyne,

And the briddis mery can syng.

- thickets, groves

2 beautiful

3 did

ROBIN HOOD AND THE MONK

159

' This is a mery mornyng,’ seid Litull John,
' Be hym )>at dyed on tre ;

A more mery man |>en I am one
Lyves not in Cristiante.1

Pluk up fn hert, my dere mayster,’

Litull John can sey,

' And thynk hit is a full fayre tyme
In a mornyng of May.’

' <^e,2 on thyng greves me,’ seid Robyn,

' And does my hert mych woo ;

pat I may not no solem day
To mas nor matyns goo.

Hit is a fourtnet and more,’ seid he,

' Syn I my Savyour 8 see ;

To-day wil I to Notyngham,’ seid Robyn,

' With J>e myght of mylde Marye.’

Than spake Moche,4 mylner 5 sun —
Ever more wel hym betyde !

' Take twelve of ]n wyght6 gemen,7
Well weppynd, be jn side.

Such on wolde J>iselfe slon,
pat twelve dar not abyde.8 ’

' Of all my mery men,’ seid Robyn,

' Be my feith I wil non have,

But Litull John shall beyre my bow,

Til ]>at me list to drawe.’

1 Christendom

2 yea

3 consecrated wafer or host

4 Much

5 miller’s

6 sturdy

7 yeomen

8 withstand

160 TALES

' pou shall beyre )>in own,’ seid Litull Jo[h]n,

' Maister, and I wyl beyre myne,

And we well shete a peny,1 ’ seid Litull Jo[h]n,
' Under pe grenewode lyne.2 ’

5 ' I wil not shete a peny,’ seyd Robyn Hode,

' In feith, Litull John, with the,

But ever for on as 8 f>ou shetis,’ seide Robyn,

' In feith I holde J>e thre.’

Thus shet )>ei forth, )?ese gemen too,
io Bothe at buske 4 and brome,5

Til Litull John wan of his maister
Five shillings to 6 hose and shone.

A ferly7 strife fel J>em betwene,

As they went bi the wey ;

15 Litull John seid he had won five shillings,

And Robyn Hode seid schortly, ' Nay.’

With )?at Robyn Hode lyed 8 Litul Jo[h]n,

And smote hym with his hande ;

Litul Jo[h]n waxed wroth )>erwith,

20 And pulled out his bright bronde.

' Were )>ou not my maister,’ seid Litull John,

' J>ou shuldis by 9 hit ful sore ;

Get )re a man wher ]?ou w[ilt],

For j?ou getis me no more.’

25 pen Robyn goes to Notyngham,

Hymselfe mornyng 10 allone,

And Litull John to mery Scherwode —

The pathes he knew ilkone.

1 shoot for a penny

2 lime, linden

3 that

4 bush

8 broom

6 for

7 fierce

8 gave the lie to

9 pay for
10 mourning

ROBIN HOOD AND THE MONK

161

Whan Robyn came to Notyngham,

Sertenly withouten layn,1

He prayed to God and myld Mary
To bryng hym out save 2 agayn.

He gos into Seynt Mary chirch, 5

And kneled down before the rode 8 ;

Alle ]^>at ever were pe church within
Beheld wel Robyn Hode.

Beside hym stod a gret-hedid munke,

I pray to God woo he be 1 I0

Fful sone he knew gode Robyn,

As sone as he hym se.

Out at )>e durre he ran,

Fful sone and anon ;

Alle ])e gatis of Notyngham 15

He made to be sparred everychon.

' Rise up,’ he seid, ' J>ou prowde schereff,

Buske 4 pe and make pe bowne 5 ;

I have spyed pe kynggis felon,

Fforsothe he is in pis town. 20

I have spyed Jte false felon,

As he stondis at his masse ;

Hit is long of 6 pe,’ seide )?e munke,

' And 7 ever he fro us passe.

}?is traytur name is Robyn Hode, 25

Under pe grenewode lynde 8 ;

He robbyt me onys of a hundred pound,

Hit shalle never out of my mynde.’

1 lying

2 safe
8 cross

4 prepare
6 ready

6 through, by means of

T if

8 linden

162

TALES

Up fen rose fis prowde shereff,

And radly 1 made hym gare 2 ;

Many was fe moder son

To fe kyrk with hym can fare.

5 In at fe durres fei throly 3 thrast,4

With staves ful gode wone 5 ;

' Alas, alas ! ’ seid Robyn Hode,

1 Now mysse I Litull John.’

But Robyn toke out a too-hond sworde,
io pat hangit down be his kne ;

per as fe schereff and his men stode thyckust,
Thefurwarde wolde he.

Thryes thorowout fern he ran fen,

Forsofe, as I yow sey,

15 And woundyt mony a moder son,

And twelve he slew fat day.

His sworde upon fe schireff hed
Sertanly he brake in too ;

* pe smyth fat fe made,’ seid Robyn,

20 ' I pray God 6 wyrke hym woo !

Ffor now am I weppynlesse,’ seid Robyn,

' Alasse ! agayn my wylle ;

But-if I may fle fese traytors fro,

I wot fei wil me kyll. ’

There is a break in the manuscript two lines after this point, but it is evident
from what follows that Robin Hood’s men in some way learn of his capture.
All of them are utterly distracted by this news save Little John, who feels sure
that ' our Lady ’ will care for her servant. He himself will see to the monk.

1 quickly

2 ready

3 stoutly

4 thrust

5 number

6 MS. to God

ROBIN HOOD AND THE MONK 163

Litul John stode at a wyndow in ]>e mornyng,

And lokid for|> at a stage ;

He was war wher )>e munke came ridying,

And with hym a litul page.

' Be my feith,’ seid Litul John to Moch,

' I can )>e tel tithyngus 1 gode ;

I se wher |>e munke cumys rydyng,

I know hym be his wyde hode.’

They went into the way, ]>ese jemen bo]>e,

As curtes men and hende ;

J’ei spyrred 2 tithyngus at J>e munke,

As they hade bene his frende.

Ffro whens come je ? ’ seid Litull Jo[h]n,

' Tel us tithyngus, I yow pray,

Off a false owtlay, [callid Robyn Hode,]

Was takyn jisterday.

He robbyt me and my felowes bope
Of twenti marke in sertayn 8 ;

If pat false owtlay be takyn,

Fforso]>e we wolde be fayn.’

' So did he me,’ seid ]>e munke,

' Of a hundred pound and more ;

I layde furst hande hym apon,

^e may thonke me ]>erfore.’

' I pray God thanke you,’ seid Litull John,

'And we wil when we may ;

We wil go with you, with your leve,

And bryng yow on your way.

' tidings

2 asked

8 M5>. serten

164

TALES

Ffor Robyn Hode hase many a wilde felow,
I tell you in certayn 1 ;

If pei wist je rode Ris way,

In feith ge shulde be slayn.’

As )?ei went talking be j?e way,

The munke and Litull John,

John toke pe munkis horse be J?e hede,

Fful sone and anon.

John 2 toke )>e munkis horse be ]>e hed,
Fforsofe, as I yow say ;

So did Much, J>e litull page,

Ffor8 he shulde not scape away.

Be fe golett4 of J>e hode

John pulled J>e munke down ;

John was nothyng of hym agast —

He lete hym falle on his crown.

Litull John was so[re] agrevyd,

And drew owt his swerde in hye 5 ;

This munke saw he shulde be ded,

Lowd ' me’rcy ! ’ can 6 he crye.

' He was my maister,’ seid Litull John,

' ]?at )>ou hase browgt in bale 7 ;

Shalle )>ou never cum at our kyng,

Ffor to telle hym tale.’

John smote of fe munkis hed,

No longer wolde he dwell 8 ;

So did Moch }>e litull page,

Ffor ferd9 lest he wolde tell. . . .

1 MS. certen
8 MS. Johne
8 that

4 throat

5 haste
8 did

9 fear

r trouble
8 demy

ROBIN HOOD AND THE MONK

165

Little John and Much then carry to the king the letters taken from the
monk’s body, conveying the tidings of Robin’s capture. The king rejoices at
this news, gives the men twenty pounds as a reward, and makes them yeomen
of the crown. He then bids Little John bear his privy seal to the sheriff of
Nottingham, commanding that Robin Hood be brought to him, alive and
uninjured.

The scheref made John gode chere,

And gaf hym wyne of the best ;

At nyjt ]>ei went to her bedde,

And every man to his rest.

When )>e scheref was on slepe,1
Dronken of wyne and ale,

Litul John and Moch, forsojte,

Toke }>e way unto )>e jale.

Litul John callid up )>e jayler,

And bade hym rise anon ;

He seyd Robyn Hode had brokyn prison,

And out of hit was gon.

The porter rose anon, sertan,

As sone as he herd John calle ;

Litul John was redy with a swerd,

And bare hym to pe walle.

' Now wil I be porter,’ seid Litul John,

' And take J>e keyes in honde ’ ;

He toke pe way to Robyn Hode,

And sone he hym unbonde.

He gaf hym a gode swerd in his hond,

His hed with for to kepe,2

And ther as )>e walle was lowyst
Anon down can pei lepe.

1 asleep

2 to defend his head with

TALES

1 66

Be }>at )>e cok began to crow,

The day began to spryng,

The scheref fond pe jay Her ded,

The comyn bell made he ryng.

5 He made a crye thoroout al |>e tow[n],

Wheder he be joman or knave

J>at cow]>e bryng hym Robyn Hode,

His warison 1 he shuld have.

' Ffor I dar never,’ said ]>e scheref,
io ' Cum before oure kyng ;

Ffor if I do, I wot serten
Fforsoj»e he wil me heng.’

The scheref made to seke Notyngham,

Bothe be strete and stye,2

15 And Robyn was in mery Scherwode,

As lijt as lef on lynde.

Then bespake gode Litull John,

To Robyn Hode can he say :

' I have done }>e a gode turne for an evyll,

20 Quyte ]>e 3 whan ]>ou may.

' I have done ]>e a gode turne,’ seid Litull John
' Fforsothe, as I yow say ;

I have broujt ]>e under grenewode lyne ;
Ffarewel, and have gode day.’

25 ' Nay, be my trouth,’ seid Robyn Hode,

' So shall hit neuer be ;

I make ]ie maister,’ seid Robyn Hode,

' Off alle my men and me.’

1 reward

2 lane

3 make return

KING ROBERT OF SICILY

167

' Nay, be my trouth,’ seid Litull John,

' So shalle hit never be ;

But lat me be a felow,1 ’ seid Litull John,

' No noder kepe I be.2 ’

Thus John gate Robyn Hod[e] out of prison,

Sertan withoutyn layn 8 ;

Whan his men saw hym hoi and sounde,

Fforsothe they were full fayne.

They filled in wyne, and made hem glad,

Under ]>e levys smale,

And jete 4 pastes of venyson,

J’at gode was with ale.

Eight stanzas remain. Word of the escape is carried to the king, who
declares that, though Little John has beguiled both the sheriff and himself,
he has been true to Robin Hood.

KING ROBERT OF SICILY

This is the poem from which Longfellow drew the Sicilian’s tale, in the
first series of his Tales of a Wayside Inn. Leigh Hunt related the story in
prose in his Jar of Honey from Alount Hybla (1848) ; a play was founded on
it in the reign of Henry VII, and acted at Chester in 1529 (Ward, Hist. E?ig.
Dram. Lit. i. 93-4; Collier, Hist. Eng. Dram. Poetry, London, 1831, 1. 113-5;
2.128, 415; Hazlitt, Rem. Early Pop. Poetry , London, 1864, 1.264-88);
and Rudolf Schmidt drew from it his drama, Den Forvandlede Konge , which
appeared in 1876, and was several times played at Copenhagen. Closely allied
to our Middle English poem is Jean de Conde’s (fl. 13 10-1340) Li Dis dou
Alagnificat ( Dits et Contes de Baudouin de Conde et de son Fils, Jean de Cotide,
ed. Scheler, Brussels, 1866, 2. 355-70, 455 ff.). ■ The former, however, has
been influenced by the romance of Robert the Devil (cf. Varnhagen, Longfellow's
Tales of a Wayside Inn, Berlin, 1884, pp. 43-7), from which the king’s name,
Robert, may come, together with certain traits of his life as fool ; Robert the
Devil, like the king, reaches Rome on Maundy Thursday.

The tale appears in numerous versions, European and Asiatic. One set of
the European versions derives from the story of Jovinian in the Gesta Roma¬
no-rum. Much earlier is the Jewish legend, which occurs in four versions (Jeru¬
salem and Babylonian Talmuds, Kabbala, etc.), one of which connects the story

J comrade

2 no other I care to be

3 dissembling

4 ate

i68

TALES

with Jer. 9. 23, instead of with the Magnificat. On the Hebrew are founded an
Arabic and a Turkish version, and the former, in turn, may have been influ¬
enced by the Hindoo belief in metempsychosis (see Varnhagen, op. cit., and
his Ein Indisches Marchen auf seiner Wanderung , Berlin, 1882).

Our text (lines 90-199, 383-416) is taken from Horstmann, Sammlung
Altenglischer Legenden (Heilbronn, 1878). The poem must be earlier than
1370, the approximate date of the Vernon manuscript.

The first part of the poem may be summarized as follows : King Robert of
Sicily was brother to Pope Urban and Emperor Valmond (not historical), and
was proud to think that he had no equal. On Midsummer Night (June 24) he
went to vespers, and heard a verse of the Magnificat — Deposuit potentes de
sede, et exaltavit humiles — which he made a clerk translate to him, and then
scoffed at it. In church he fell asleep, and when vespers were over was left
there alone, his place with the court being taken by an angel who assumed his
appearance. At length the king wakes, cries out for his men, and is roughly
accosted by the sexton, who, finally, thinking him to be mad, opens the
church-door.

pe kyng bigan to renne out faste ;
As a man pat was wod
At his paleys-gate he stod,

And het pe porter gadelyng,1
And bad him come in higyng,2
Anon pe gates up3 to do.
pe porter seide : ' Ho 4 clepep 6 so ? ’
He answered rigt anon :

' pou schalt witen,6 ar I gon :

]i>i lord I am, pou schalt knowe ;

In prison pou schalt ligge 7 lowe,

And ben honged and todrawe 8
As a traytur, bi pe lawe ;
pou schalt wel wite I am kyng.
Opene pe gates, gadelyng ! ’

pe porter seide : ' So mot 9 I pe,10
pe kyng is mid his meyne 11 ;

Wel I wot, wipoute doute,
pe kyng nis nougt12 now wipoute.’

knave

5 calleth

9 may

haste

6 know

10 thrive, prosper

open

7 lie

11 court

who

8 drawn

12 not

KING ROBERT OF SICILY

169

pe porter com into halle,

Bifore pe newe kyng a 1 knes gan falle,

And seide : ' per is atte 2 gate
A nyce 8 fol, ycome late ;

He seif> he is lord and kyng, 5

And cleped me foule gadelyng.

Lord, what wile ge pat I do —

Lete him in, or lete him go ? ’
pe angel seide in haste :

' Do him come in swipe 4 faste ; 10

For mi fol I wile him make,

Forte 6 he pe name of kyng forsake.’

pe porter com to pe gate,

And him called in — to late :

He smot pe porter whan he com in, 15

pat blod brast out of moup and chin,
pe porter geld 8 him his travayle —

Him smot agen, wipouten fayle,
pat nese and moup brast a 7 blod.

panne he 8 semed almost wod. 20

pe porter and his men in haste
Kyng Roberd in a podel9 caste,

Unsemely made his bodi pan,
pat he nas lik non oper man,

And brougt him bifore pe newe kyng, 25

And seide : ' Lord, pis gadelyng
Me hap smite wipoute desert ;

He seip he is oure kyng apert10 ;
pis harlot 11 ougte for his sawe 12

Ben yhonged and todrawe, 30

For he seip non oper word

Bote pat he is bope kyng and lord.’

1 on

6 until

9 puddle

2 at the

* requited

ln clearly

8 silly

~ with

11 rascal

4 full

8 King Robert

12 saying

TALES

170

3°

1 afraid

2 expiate

3 wrongfully

4 avenge
6 tarry

pe angel seide to Kyng Roberd :

' pou art a fol, )>at art nougt ferd 1
Mi men to do such vileynye ;
pi gult pou most nede abye.2
What art pou ? ’ seide pe angel.

Qua)) Roberd : ' pou schalt wite wel :

I am kyng, and kyng wil be ;

WiJ) wronge 3 ))ou hast mi dignite.
pe Pope of Rome is mi broker,

And |>e Emperour min oper ;

J>ei wil me wreke,4 forsop to telle,

I wot pei nille nougt longe dwelle.5 ’

’ pou art mi fol,’ seide )>e angel ;

' pou schalt be schore 6 everichdel 7
Lich a fol, a fol to be —

Wher is now ])i dignite ?
pi counseyler schal ben an ape,

And o 8 clo])yng gou 9 wor)) 10 yschape 11
I schal him cloven as pi broker,

Of o clo]>yng — hit nis non oper ;

He schal be pin owne fere12 —

Sum wit of him })ou migt lere.
Houndes, howso hit falle,13
Schulen ete wip pe in halle ;
pou schalt eten on pe ground ;
pin assayour 14 schal ben an hound,

To assaye pi mete bifore pe — ■

Wher is now pi dignite ? ’

He het a barbur him bifore,
pat as a fol he schulde be schore
A1 around lich a frere,15
An hondebrede bove eiper ere,

6 shorn

7 in every respect

8 one, the same

9 for you both
1° shall be

U made

12 partner

13 befall

14 taster

15 friar

KING ROBERT OF SICILY 1 7 1

And on his croune make a crois.

He gan crie and make nois :

He swor ]>ei schulde alle abye
pat him dude such vileynye,

And ever he seide he was lord ;

And eche man scorned him for )>at word,

And eche man seide he was wod —
pat proved wel he coupe no good.

For he wende in none wise
pat God almigti coupe devise
Him to bringe to lower stat ;

Wip o draugt 1 he was chekmat.

Wip houndes everich nigt he lay,

And ofte he cried welaway
pat he ever was ybore,

For he was a man forlore.
per nas in court grom ne page
pat of pe kyng ne made rage,2
For no man ne migte him knowe :

He was defigured in a prowe.3

So lowe er pat was never kyng ;

Allas, her was a delful 4 ping —
pat him 5 scholde, for his pride,

Such hap among his men bitide !

Hunger and purst he hadde grete,6
For he ne moste 7 no mete ete,

Bote houndes eten of his disch.

The story continues thus: The new king gave Sicily an angelic govern¬
ment for more than three years — almost four, it would seem. At length —
in April it was — he received a letter from Valmond, inviting him to Rome
for Maundy Thursday. Thither the king went, and in his train the fool, the
latter in a garment decorated with fox-tails, the angel in white samite set with
pearls, and on a white steed. The deposed Robert appeals to his brothers in

1 move 4 doleful 7 might, was allowed

2 sport 6 MS. he

3 trice 6 great

172

TALES

vain, and thereupon thinks of Nebuchadnezzar and Ilolofernes, and how their
pride was brought low. With this he pours out his heart in prayer: ' Lord, on
thy fool have thou pity ! ’ At the end of five weeks the king returns to Sicily.

pe angel com to Cisyle,

He and his men, in a while ;

Whan he com into halle,
pe fol he bad for)? calle.

5 He seide : ' Fol, artow kyng ? ’

' Nay, sire,’ qua)? he, ' wi)?oute lesyng.’ 1
' What artow ? ’ seide )?e angel.

' Sire, a fol, ]?at wot I wel,

And more )>an fol, gif hit may be :
io Kep2 I non o]?er dignite.’

pe angel into chaumbre went ;

After )?e fol anon he sent ;

He bad his men out of chaumbre gon ;
per lefte 3 no mo but he alon,

15 And )?e fol )?at stod him bi.

To him he seide : ' ]?ou hast merci.

J>enk )?ou were lowe pult,4
And al was for J?in owne gult :

A fol ]?ou were to hevene Kyng,

20 J?erfore J?ou art an underlyng.

God ha)? forgive )?i mysdede ;

Ever herafter )?ou him drede 1
I am an angel of renoun,

Sent to kepe J?i regioun.

25 More joye me schal falle

In hevene among mi feren 6 alle
In an oure of a day
pan in er)?e, I ]>e say,

In an hundred )?ousend ger,

30 J?eig al )?e world fer and ner

1 falsehood 3 remained 5 companions

2 hold 4 placed

CHAUCER, THE CLERK’S TALE

173

Were min at mi likyng.

I am an angel, )>ou art kyng.’

He went in twynklyng of an eje.
No more of him |>er nas seje.1

CHAUCER, CLERK’S TALE: THE STORY OF GRISELDA

See the general references on Chaucer at the close of the introductory note
to Sir Thopas, p. 108.

Ther is at the west syde of Itaille,

Doun at the rote of Vesulus2 the colde,

A lusty playne, habundant of vitaille,

Wher many a tour and toun thou mayst biholde,
That founded were in tyme of fadres olde,

And many another delitable sighte ;

And Saluces 3 this noble contree highte.

A markis whylom lord was of that londe,

As \yere his worthy eldres him bifore ;

And obeisant and redy to his honde
Were alle his liges,4 bothe lasse and more.

Thus in delyt he liveth, and hath don yore,6
Biloved and drad, thurgh favour of fortune,
Bothe of his lordes and of his commune.6

Therwith he was, to speke as of linage,

The gentilleste yborn of Lumbardye,

A fair persone, and strong, and yong of age,
And ful of honour and of curteisye ;

Discreet ynogh his contree for to gye 7 —

Save in somme thinges that he was to blame —
And Walter was this yonge lordes name.

Lines 22-105 are here omitted. Walter’s subjects urge him to marry, and
he promises, conditionally, to do so. The next selection includes lines 106-19.

1 seen

2 Monte Viso

3 Saluzzo, southwest of Turin

4 vassals

5 for a long time

6 common people, commons

7 guide, rule

174

TALES

' Lat me alone in chesinge of my wyf,

That charge upon my bak I wol endure ;

But I yow preye, and charge upon your lyf,

That what wyf that I take, ye me assure
5 To worshipe hir, whyl that hir lyf may dure,

In word and werk, bothe here and everywhere,

As she an emperoures doghter were.

And forthermore, this shal ye swere, that ye
Agayn 1 my choys shul neither grucche 2 ne stryve ;
io For sith I shal forgoon my libertee

At your requeste, as ever moot I thryve,

Ther as myn herte is set, ther wol I wyve ;

And but ye wole assente in swich manere,

I prey yow, speketh namore of this matere.’

Lines 120-40 are here omitted. Walter names the wedding-day, and orders
the wedding-feast. The next selection includes lines 14 1-343.

15 Noght fer fro thilke paleys honurable,

Ther as this markis shoop 3 his mariage,

Ther stood a throp,4 of site delitable,5
In which that povre folk of that village
Hadden hir bestes and hir herbergage, 6
20 And of hir labour took hir sustenance,

After that th’erthe yaf hem habundance.

Amonges thise povre folk ther dwelte a man
Which that was holden povrest of hem alle
(But hye God som tyme senden can
25 His grace into a litel oxes stalle) ;

Janicula men of that throp him calle.

A doghter hadde he, fair ynogh to sighte,

And Grisildis this yonge mayden highte.

1 against

2 murmur, grumble

3 prepared for, planned

4 thorp, small village

6 delightful
6 lodging

CHAUCER, THE CLERK’S TALE

175

But for to speke of vertuous beautee,

Than was she oon the faireste under sonne ;

For povreliche yfostred up was she,

No likerous 1 lust was thurgh hir herte yronne ;
Wei of ter of the welle than of the tonne 2
She drank, and, for she wolde vertu plese,

She knew wel labour, but non ydel ese.

But thogh this mayde tendre were of age,

Yet in the brest of hir virginitee

Ther was enclosed rype and sad corage 3 ;

And in greet reverence and charitee
Hir olde povre fader fostred she ;

A fewe sheep, spinning, on feeld she kepte,

She wolde noght been ydel til she slepte.

And whan she hoomward cam, she wolde bringe
Wortes 4 or othere herbes, tymes ofte,

The whiche she shredde and seeth 5 for hir livinge,
And made hir bed ful harde, and nothing softe ;
And ay she kepte hir fadres lyf onlofte 6
With everich obeisaunce and diligence
That child may doon to fadres reverence.

Upon Grisilde, this povre creature,

Ful ofte sythe this markis sette his ye,

As he on hunting rood paraventure 7 ;

And whan it fil that he mighte hir espye,

Pie noght with wantoun loking of folye
His yen caste on hir, but in sad wyse
Upon hir chere 8 he wolde him ofte avyse,9

Commending in his herte hir wommanhede,

And eek hir vertu, passing any wight
Of so yong age, as wel in chere as dede.

3°

1 wanton

2 tun, cask

8 serious disposition

4 herbs

6 boiled

6 aloft (kept aloft = sustained)

’ by chance

8 face, countenance

9 take thought

176

TALES

For thogh the peple have no greet insight
In vertu, he considered ful right
Hir bountee, and disposed 1 that he wolde
Wedde hir only, if ever he wedde sholde.

The day of wedding cam, but no wight can
Telle what womman that it sholde be ;

For which merveille wondred many a man,
And seyden, whan they were in privetee :

' Wol nat our lord yet leve his vanitee ?

Wol he nat wedde ? alias, alias the whyle !
Why wol he thus himself and us bigyle ? ’

But natheles this markis hath don make 2
Of gemmes, set in gold and in asure,

Broches and ringes, for Grisildis sake,

And of hir clothing took he the mesure
By a mayde, lyk to hir [as of 3] stature,

And eek of othere ornamentes alle
That unto swich a wedding sholde falle.

The tyme of undern 4 of the same day
Approcheth, that this wedding sholde be ;
And al the paleys put was in array,

Bothe halle and chambres, ech in his degree ;
Houses of office 5 stuffed with plentee,

Ther maystow seen, of deyntevous 6 vitaille,7
That may be founde as fer as last 8 Itaille.

This royal markis, richely arrayed,

Lordes and ladyes in his companye,

The whiche unto the feste were yprayed,

And of his retenue the bachelrye,9
With many a soun of sondry melodye,

1 planned

2 had made

3 in respect to

4 about 9 A.M.

6 servants’ offices
6 dainty

7 food

8 farthest (part of)

9 company of young men

CHAUCER, THE CLERK’S TALE

Unto the village, of the which I tolde,

In this array the righte wey han holde.

Grisilde of this, God woot, ful innocent
That for hir shapen was al this array,

To fecchen water at a welle is went,

And cometh hoom as sone as ever she may ;

For wel she hadde herd seyd that thilke day
The markis sholde wedde, and, if she mighte,

She wolde fayn han seyn som of that sighte.

She thoghte : ' I wol with othere maydens stonde
That been my felawes, in our dore, and see
The markisesse, and therfor wol I fonde 1
To doon at hoom, as sone as it may be,

The labour which that longeth unto me ;

And than I may at leyser hir biholde,

If she this wey unto the castel holde.’

And as she wolde over hir threshfold goon,

The markis cam and gan hir for to calle ;

And she set doun hir water-pot anoon
Bisyde the threshfold, in an oxes stalle,

And doun upon hir knees she gan to falle,

And with sad contenance kneleth stille,

Til she had herd what was the lordes wille.

This thoghtful markis spak unto this mayde
Ful sobrely, and seyde in this manere :

' Wher is your fader, Grisildis ? ’ he sayde.

And she with reverence, in humble chere,
Answerde : ' Lord, he is al redy here.’

And in she gooth withouten lenger lette,

And to the markis she hir fader fette.

1 try, endeavor

i78

TALES

He by the hond than took this olde man,

And seyde thus, whan he him hadde asyde :

' Janicula, I neither may ne can
Lenger the plesance of myn herte hyde ;

5 If that thou vouchesauf, whatso bityde,

Thy doghter wol I take, er that I wende,1
As for my wyf, unto hir lyves ende.

Thou lovest me, I woot it wel, certeyn,

And art my feithful lige man ybore ;
i o And al that lyketh 2 me, I dar wel seyn

It lyketh thee, and specially therfore
Tel me that poynt that I have seyd bifore —

If that thou wolt unto that purpos drawe
To take me as for thy sone-in-lawe ? ’

This sodeyn cas 3 this man astoned so
That reed he wex, abayst,4 and al quaking
He stood ; unnethes seyde he wordes mo,

But only thus : ' Lord,’ quod he, ' my willing
Is as ye wole, ne ayeines your lyking
I wol nothing ; ye be my lord so dere ;

Right as yow lust govemeth 5 this matere.’

' Yet wol I,’ quod this markis softely,

' That in thy chambre I and thou and she
Have a collacion,6 and wostow why ?

For I wol axe if it hir wille be
To be my wyf, and reule hir after me ;

And al this shal be doon in thy presence — -
I wol noght speke out of thyn audience.’

And in the chambre whyl they were aboute
Hir tretis,7 which as ye shal after here,

The peple cam unto the hous withoute,

4 abashed, disconcerted 7 treaties, agreements

2 pleaseth 6 arrange (imp. plur.)

3 happening 6 conference

3°

CHAUCER, THE CLERK’S TALE

179

And vvondred hem in how honest 1 manere
And tentifly 2 she kepte hir fader dere.

But outerly 8 Grisildis wondre mighte,

For never erst ne saugh she swich a sighte.

No wonder is thogh that she were astoned 5

To seen so greet a gest come in that place ;

She never was to swiche gestes woned,4 5
For which she loked with ful pale face.

But shortly forth this tale for to chace,

Thise am the wordes that the markis sayde 10

To this benigne verray feithful mayde.

' Grisilde,’ he seyde, ' ye shul wel understonde

It lyketh to your fader and to me

That I yow wedde, and eek it may so stonde,

As I suppose ye wol that it so be. 15

But thise demandes axe I first,’ quod he,

' That, sith it shal be doon in hastif wyse,

Wol ye assente, or elles yow avyse 6 ?

I seye this, be ye redy with good herte

To al my lust, and that I frely may, 20

As me best thinketh, do yow G laughe or smerte,

And never ye to grucche it, night ne day ?

And eek whan I sey " ye,” ne 7 sey nat " nay,”

Neither by word ne frowning contenance ;

Swer this, and here I swere our alliance.’ 25

Wondring upon this word, quaking for drede,

She seyde : ' Lord, undigne 8 and unworthy
Am I to thilke honour that ye me bede,9
But as ye wol yourself, right so wol I ;

And heer I swere that never willingly 30

creditable, decent
attentively, carefully
utterly

4 accustomed

6 consider the matter (= refuse)

5 cause you to

7 So MS. read-, ye (?)

8 undeserving

9 offer

180 TALES

In werk ne thoght I nil yow disobeye,

For to be 1 deed, though me were looth to deye.’

' This is ynogh, Grisilde myn ! ’ quod he.

And forth he gooth with a ful sobre chere
5 Out at the dore, and after that cam she,

And to the peple he seyde in this manere :

' This is my wyf,’ quod he, ' that standeth here.
Honoureth hir and loveth hir, I preye,

Whoso me loveth ; ther is namore to seye.’

io And for that nothing of hir olde gere 2 *

She sholde bringe into his hous, he bad
That wommen sholde dispoilen hir right there ;
Of which thise ladyes were nat right glad
To handle hir clothes wherin she was clad.

1 5 But natheles this mayde, bright of hewe,

Fro foot to heed they clothed han al newe.

Hir heres han they kembd, that lay untressed
Ful rudely, and with hir8 fingres smale
A corone on hir heed they han ydressed,4
20 And sette hir ful of nowches 5 grete and smale :

Of hir array what sholde I make a tale ?
Unnethe6 the peple hir knew for hir faimesse,
Whan she translated was in swich richesse.

This markis hath hir spoused with a ring
25 Broght for the same cause, and than hir sette

Upon an hors, snow-whyt and wel ambling,

And to his paleys, er he lenger lette,7
With joyful peple that hir ladde and mette,
Conveyed hir, and thus the day they spende
30 In revel, til the sonne gan descende.

1 even if I were to be

2 apparel

8 their

4 placed, arranged

5 jewels

6 scarcely, with difficulty

' delayed

CHAUCER, THE CLERK’S TALE 181

And shortly forth this tale for to chace,

I seye that to this newe markisesse

God hath swich favour sent hir, of his grace,

That it.ne semed nat by lyklinesse
That she was born and fed in rudenesse,

As in a cote or in an oxe-stalle,

But norished in an emperoures halle.

Lines 344-441 are here omitted. A daughter is born to Griselda. Soon
after, in order to try her patience, Walter tells her that his subjects grumble
about her low birth, and announces that the child must be taken from her.
The next selection embraces lines 442-518.

Whan she had herd al this, she noght ameved,1
Neither in word, or chere, or countenaunce ;

For, as it semed, she was nat agreved.

She seyde : ' Lord, al lyth in your plesaunce ;

My child and I with hertly obeisaunce 2
Ben youres al, and ye mowe save or spille 3
Your owene thing4 ; werketh after your wille.

Ther may nothing — God so my soule save I —

Lyken to yow that may displese me ;

Ne I desyre nothing for to have,

Ne drede for to lese, save only ye ;

This wil is in myn herte, and ay shal be.

No lengthe of tyme or deeth may this deface,

Ne chaunge my corage5 to another place.’

Glad was this markis of hir answering,

But yet he feyned as he were nat so ;

Al drery was his chere and his loking,

Whan that he sholde out of the chambre go.

Sone after this, a furlong wey or two,

He prively hath told al his entente
Unto a man, and to his wyf him sente.

1 changed 8 destroy 5 mind, disposition

2 hearty obedience 4 possession

182

TALES

A maner 1 sergeant 2 was this privee man,

The which that feithful ofte he founden hadde
In thinges grete, and eek swich folk wel can 3
Don execucioun on thinges badde.

5 The lord knew wel that he him loved and dradde :

And whan this sergeant wiste his lordes wille,

Into the chambre he stalked him ful stille.

’ Madame,’ he seyde, ' ye mote foryeve it me,
Thogh I do thing to which I am constreyned ;
io Ye ben so wys that ful wel knowe ye

That lordes hestes mowe nat been yfeyned 4 ;

They mowe wel ben biwailled or compleyned,

But men mot nede unto her 5 lust obeye,

And so wol I ; ther is namore to seye.

i s This child I am comanded for to take ’ ;

And spak namore, but out the child he hente 6
Despitously, and gan a chere 7 make
As though he wolde han slayn it er he wente.
Grisildis mot al suffren and consente ;

20 And as a lamb she sitteth meke and stille,

And leet this cruel sergeant doon his wille.

Suspecious was the diffame 8 of this man,

Suspect his face, suspect his word also ;

Suspect the tyme in which he this bigan.

25 Allas ! hir doghter that she lovede so,

She wende he wolde han slawen it right tho.

But natheless she neither weep ne syked,9
Consenting hir to that the markis lyked.

But atte laste speken she bigan,

30 And mekely she to the sergeant preyde,

So as he was a worthy gentil man,

1 sort of

2 officer

3 know how to

4 evaded

5 their

6 seized

7 behavior

8 ill report

9 sighed

CHAUCER, THE CLERK’S TALE

183

That she moste 1 kisse hir child er that it deyde ;

And in her barm 2 this litel child she leyde
With ful sad face, and gan the child to kisse,

And lulled it, and after gan it blisse.3

And thus she seyde in hir benigne voys :

' Farweel, my child ; I shal thee never see ;

But, sith I thee have marked with the croys,

Of thilke Fader blessed mote thou be
That for us deyde upon a croys of tree !

Thy soule, litel child, I him bitake,4
For this night shaltow dyen for my sake.’

I trowe that to a norice 5 in this cas
It had ben hard this rewthe for to se ;

Wei mighte a mooder than han cryed ' Allas ! ’

But nathelees so sad stedfast was she,

That she endured all adversitee,

And to the sergeant mekely she sayde :

' Have heer agayn your litel yonge mayde.

Goth now,’ quod she, ' and dooth my lordes heste,

But o thing wol I preye yow of your grace,

That, but 6 my lord forbad yow, atte leste
Burieth this litel body in som place,

That bestes ne no briddes it torace.7 ’

But he no word wol to that purpos seye,

But took the child, and wente upon his weye.

Lines 519-756 are here omitted. The child is taken in safety to Boulogne
to Walter’s sister, the countess. After four years a boy is born, and, to try
Griselda’s patience yet further, this child, too, is taken from her, and similarly
disposed of. As a last test, Walter tells her that she herself must leave [him,
and return to her father’s cottage, for his people demand that he take a high¬
born wife. The next selection embraces lines 757-805.

1 might

2 lap

3 bless

4 commit

6 nurse

6 unless

. 7 tear to pieces

TALES

184

And she answerde agayn in pacience :

' My lord/ quod she, ' I woot, and wiste alway,

How that bitwixen your magnificence
And my poverte no wight [ne] can ne may
5 Maken comparison ; it is no nay.

I heeld 1 me never digne in no manere
To be your wyf, no, ne your chamberere.2

And in this hous, ther ye me lady made —

The heighe God take I for my witnesse,

10 And also wisly he my soule glade3 —

I never heeld me lady ne maistresse,

But humble servant to your worthinesse,

And ever shal, whyl that my lyf may dure,

Aboven every worldly creature.

15 That ye so longe of your benignitee

Han holden me in honour and nobleye,

Whereas I was noght worthy for to be,

That thonke I God and yow, to whom I preye
Foryelde 4 it yow ; there is namore to seye.

20 Unto my fader gladly wol I wende,

And with him dwelle unto my lyves ende.

Ther I was fostred of a child ful smal,

Til I be deed, my lyf ther wol I lede,

A widwe clene, in body, herte, and al.

25 For sith I yaf to yow my maydenhede,

And am your trewe wyf, it is no drede,

God shilde 5 swich a lordes wyf to take
Another man to housbonde or to make.

And of your newe wyf, God of his grace
30 So graunte yow wele and prosperitee !

For I wol gladly yelden hir my place,

1 MS. ne heeld 8 comfort C forbid

2 chambermaid 4 to requite

CHAUCER, THE CLERK’S TALE 185

In which that I was blisful wont to be ;

For sith it lyketh yow, my lord,’ quod she,

' That whylom weren al myn hertes reste,

That I shal goon, I wol gon whan yow leste.

But ther as ye me profre swich dowaire 5

As I first broghte, it is wel in my minde
It were my wrecched clothes, nothing faire,

The which to me were hard now for to finde.

O gode God ! how gentil and how kinde

Ye semed by your speche and your visage 10

The day that maked was our mariage !

But sooth is seyd, algate 1 I finde it trewe —

For in effect it preved is on me —

Love is noght old as whan that it is newe.

But certes, lord, for noon adversitee, 15

To dyen in the cas,2 it shal nat be

That ever in word or werk I shal repente

That I yow yaf myn herte in hool entente.’

Lines 806-994 are here omitted. Griselda returns to her father’s home,
with but a single garment, and Walter’s prospective marriage is announced.
Soon he summons Griselda to prepare his house for the bride’s coming, and
she meekly obeys. When the bride and her brother appear, Griselda praises
the maiden’s beauty, and begs Walter to deal with her gently and kindly. The
next selection embraces lines 995-107 1.

' This is ynogh, Grisilde myn,’ quod he,

' Be now namore agast ne yvel apayed 8 ;

I have thy feith and thy benignitee,

As wel as ever womman was, assayed,

In greet estaat, and povreliche arrayed.

Now knowe I, dere wyf, thy stedfastnesse ’

And hir in armes took, and gan hir kesse.

1 at any rate

2 though death were the result

3 ill pleased

TALES

1 86

And she for wonder took of it no keep 1 ;

She herde nat what thing he to hir seyde ;

She ferde 2 as she had stert out of a sleep,

Til she out of hir masednesse abreyde.3
' Grisilde,’ quod he, ' by God that for us deyde,

Thou art my wyf, ne noon other I have,

Ne never hadde, as God my soule save !

This is thy doghter which thou hast supposed
To be my wyf ; that other feithfully
Shal be myn heir, as I have ay purposed ;

Thou bare him in thy body trewely.

At Boloigne have I kept hem 4 prively ;

Tak hem agayn, for now maystow nat seye
That thou hast lorn non of thy children tweye.

And folk that otherweyes5 han seyd of me,

I warne hem wel that I have doon this dede
For no malice ne for no crueltee,

But for t’ assaye in thee thy wommanhede,

And nat to sleen my children — God forbede ! —

But for to kepe hem prively and stille,

Til I thy purpos knewe and al thy wille.’

Whan she this herde, aswowne doun she falleth
For pitous joye, and after hir swowninge
She bothe hir yonge children unto hir calleth,

And in hir armes, pitously wepinge,

Embraceth hem, and tendrely kissinge
Ful lyk a mooder, with hir salte teres
She batheth bothe hir 6 visage and hir heres.

O, which a pitous thing it was to see

Hir swowning, and hir humble voys to here !

' Graunt mercy,7 lord 1 that thanke I yow,’ quod she,

1 notice

2 behaved
8 awoke

4 them

5 otherwise

6 their

" best thanks

CHAUCER, THE CLERK’S TALE iS 7

' That ye han saved me my children dere !

Now rekke I never to ben deed right here ;

Sith I stonde in your love and in your grace,

No fors of 1 deeth, ne whan my spirit pace !

O tendre, o dere, o yonge children myne,

Your woful mooder wende 2 * stedfastly
That cruel houndes or som foul vermyne
Hadde eten yow ; but God, of his mercy.

And your benigne fader tendrely

Hath doon yow kept 8 ’ ; and in that same stounde 4 *

A1 sodeynly she swapte 6 adoun to grounde.

And in her swough 6 so sadly holdeth she
Hir children two, whan she gan hem t’ embrace,

That with greet sleighte 7 and greet difhcultee
The children from hir arm they gonne arace.8
O many a teer on many a pitous face
Doun ran, of hem that stoden hir bisyde ;

Unnethe9 abouten hir mighte they abyde.

Walter hir gladeth,10 and hir sorwe slaketh 11 ;

She ryseth up, abaysed,12 from hir traunce,

And every wight hir joye and feste maketh,

Til she hath caught agayn hir contenaunce.

Walter hir dooth so feithfully plesaunce
That it was deyntee 13 for to seen the chere
Bitwixe hem two, now they ben met yfere.14

Thise ladyes, whan that they hir tyme say,16
Han taken hir, and into chambre goon,

And strepen hir out of hir rude array ;

1 no matter for 6 swoon 11 assuages

2 believed 7 dexterity 12 amazed

8 caused you to be saved 8 tear away 73 delightful

* moment 9 scarcely 14 together

6 fell 10 cheers 16 saw

1 88

TALES

And in a cloth of gold that brighte shoon,
With a coroune of many a riche stoon
Upon hir heed, they into halle hir broghte,
And ther she was honoured as hir oghte.

5 Thus hath this pitous day a blisful ende,

For every man and womman dooth his might
This day in murthe and revel to dispende,

Til on the welkne 1 shoon the sterres light.
For more solempne in every mannes sight

io This feste was, and gretter of costage,2

Than was the revel of hir mariage.

THE FOX AND THE WOLF

The Fox and the Wolf vs, found in the same manuscript as Dame Sirith, and
may therefore be assigned to the same date. It is a humorous beast-tale, a
species of which this is the only English representative before the time of
Chaucer. A version is to be found in Harris’ Uncle Remus Stories, under the
title, 'Old Mr. Rabbit, he’s a Good Fisherman.’ For the bibliography of the
subject, see McKnight, Middle English Humorous Tales in Verse (D. C. Heath
& Co., 1913).

Of the Roman de Renard, to which our poem is related, Jusserand says
(1. 152) : ' Superb manuscripts were illustrated for the libraries of the nobles;
the incidents of this epic were represented in tapestry, sculptured on church
stalls, painted on the margins of English missals. At the Renaissance, Caxton,
with his Westminster presses, printed a Renard in prose.’

The dialect is Southern — vox for fox , etc. ; and v is sometimes represented
by w. The misplacement of h, now a mark of Cockney speech, is frequent.

A vox gon out of pe wode go,

Afingret 3 so pat him wes wo ;

Lie nes nevere in none wise
15 Afingret erour4 half so swipe.5

He ne hoeld 6 nouper wey ne strete,

1 welkin, heaven

2 expense

8 ahungered
4 before

6 much

6 held, kept to

THE FOX AND THE WOLF

189

For him vves lop men to mete ;

Him were levere meten one hen
pen half an oundred 1 wimmen.

He strok 2 3 swipe 8 overal,4

So pat 5 he ofsei 6 ane wal ; 5

Wipinne pe walle wes on 7 hous.

The wox wes pider 8 swipe wous,9
For he ]>ouhte 10 his hounger aquenche,11
Oper mid mete, oper mid drenche.12

Abouten he biheld wel gerne 18 ; 10

po eroust 14 bigon pe vox to erne 15
A1 fort 16 he come to one walle ;

And som perof wes afalle,

And wes pe wal overal tobroke,17

And on gat18 per wes iloke.19 15

At pe furmeste 20 bruche 21 pat he fond,

He lep in, and over he wond.22

po he wes inne, smere 23 he lou,24
And perof he hadde gome 26 inou ;

For he com in wipouten leve 20

Bopen of haiward 26 and of reve.27
On hous per wes — pe dore wes ope —

Hennen weren perinne icrope 28 —

Five, pat makep anne flok —

And mid hem sat on kok. 25

pe kok him wes flowen on hey,

And two hennen him seten ney.

' Wox,’ quod pe kok, ' wat dest pou pare ?

1 a hundred

2 went, passed (OE. strican )

3 soon

4 everywhere

5 until

6 observed

7 a

8 (to go) thither

9 ready (OE ./us)

10 thought; MS. pohute

11 to appease

12 MS. drunche
18 eagerly

14 then first

15 run

16 until

17 broken to pieces

18 gate

49 locked
20 first

21 breach, opening

22 went, wriggled (OE. windari)
28 scornfully

24 laughed

26 sport

28 hedge-ward (one who pro¬
tected the crops within en¬
closed fields)

27 reeve (farm-overseer)

28 crept (OE. creopan)

190

TALES

Go horn, Crist fe jeve kare !

Houre 1 hennen foil dest ofte shome.2 * ’

' Be stille, Ich hote,8 a Codes nome ! ’
Quaf f e wox : ' Sire Chauntecler,

J?ou fle adoun, and com me ner.

I nabbe 4 don her nout bote goed,

I have leten fine hennen blod ;

Hy weren seke ounder fe ribe,
pat hy ne mijtte non lengour libe 5
Bote 6 here heddre 7 were itake 8 ;
pat I do for almes sake.

Ich have hem letten eddre 7 blod,

And fe, Chauntecler, hit wolde don goed.
]?ou havest fat ilke ounder fe splen,9
J?ou nestes 10 nevere daies ten ;

For fine lif-dayes bef al ago,

Bote fou bi mine rede 11 do ;

I do fe lete blod ounder fe brest,

Ofer sone axe after fe prest.’

' Go wei,’ quod fe kok, ' wo fe bigo 12 1
J?ou havest don oure kunne 13 wo.

Go mid 14 fan fat fou havest noufe 15 ;
Acoursed be fou of Codes moufe !

For were I adoun, bi Godes nome,

Ich migte ben siker of ofre shome.

Ac weste 16 hit houre cellerer 17
pat fou were icomen her,

He wolde sone after fe jonge,

Mid pikes, and stones, and staves stronge;
Alle fine bones he wolde tobreke ;

J?ene we weren wel awreke.18 ’

1 our

2 shame, dishonor

8 bid

4 have not

8 live

8 unless

7 vein (OE. cedre)

8 opened (?)

9 spleen

1° dost build a nest

11 counsel

12 take possession of

I® kind, race

44 with

45 now

16 if (our cellarer) knew

17 cellarer
48 avenged

THE FOX AND THE WOLF

191

He 1 wes stille, ne spak namore,

Ac he werp 2 * apurst wel sore ;

V* purst him dede more wo
pen hevede raper 8 his hounger do.

Overal he ede 4 and souhte ; 5 5

On aventure his witt 6 him brouhte 7

To one putte 8 — wes water inne — •

pat wes irnaked mid grete ginne.9

Tuo boketes per he founder

pat oper 10 wende to pe grounde, 10

pat wen 11 me shulde pat on opwinde,
pat oper wolde adoun winde.

He ne hounderstod nout of pe ginne ;

He nom 12 pat boket, and lep perinne,

For he hopede inou to drinke. 15

pis boket beginnep to sinke ;

To late pe vox wes bipout,13
po he wes in pe ginne ibrout.

Inou he gon him bipenche,

Ac hit ne halp mid none wrenche 14 ; 20

Adoun he moste, he wes perinne ;

Ikaut he wes mid swikele 15 ginne.

Hit mijte han iben wel his wille
To lete pat boket hongi stille.

Wat 18 mid serewe 17 and mid drede 25

A1 his purst him overhede.18
A1 pus he com to pe grounde,

And water inou per he founde.
po he fond water, gerne he dronk ;

Him poute pat water pere stonk, 30

For hit wes togeines his wille.

1 the fox

2 became

8 earlier, before

4 went (OE. eode)

5 MS. sohute

6 MS. wiit

7 MS. brohute

8 pit, well

9 clever contrivance
1° second

11 when

12 took

13 had bethought himself
11 trick

15 deceiving

16 what
11 sorrow

18 passed away (OE. ofcreode)

192

TALES

' Wo worpe,’ qua]) pe vox, ' lust and wille,
Jtat ne can 1 me]) 2 to his mete !

^ef ich nevede to muchel i-ete,
pis ilke shome nedd 3 I noupe,

Nedde lust iben of mine moupe.

Him is wo in euche londe,
pat is pef mid his honde.

Ich am ikaut mid swikele ginne,

Oper soum devel me broute herinne.

I was woned 4 to ben wiis,

Ac nou of me idon hit hiis.5 ’
pe vox wep, and reuliche 6 bigan.
per com a wolf gon after pan
Out of pe depe wode blive,7
For he wes afingret swipe.

Noping he ne founde in al pe nigte,
Wermide 8 his honger aquenche migtte.

He com to pe putte, pene vox iherde ;

He him kneu wel bi his rerde,9
For hit wes his neigebore,

And his gossip, of 10 children bore.

Adoun bi pe putte he sat.

Quod pe wolf : 'Wat may ben pat
pat Ich in pe putte ihere ?

Hertou 11 Cristine, oper mi fere 12 ?

Say me sop, ne gabbe 13 pou me nout,

Wo 14 havep pe in pe putte ibrout ? ’
pe vox hine ikneu wel for his kun,

And po eroust kom wiit to him ;

For he poute mid soumme ginne
Himself houpbringe,15 pene wolf perinne.

1 knows

2 moderation

3 should not have had

4 accustomed, wont

5 is (and now it is all up with me)

3 sadly
" quickly

8 wherewith

9 speech

10 from the time they were

n art thou

42 companion

43 jest, lie

14 who

15 to bring up

THE FOX AND THE WOLF

193

Quod )>e vox : 'Wo is nou pere ?

Ich wene hit is Sigrim pat Ich here.’

' pat is sop,’ )>e wolf sede ;

' Ac wat art pou, so God ]>e rede ? ’

' A 1 ’ quod pe vox, ' Ich wille pe telle ;
On alpi 1 word Ich lie nelle.2
Ich am Reneuard, pi frend,

And jif Ich pine come 3 hevede iwend,4
Ich hedde so ibede6 for pe,
pat pou sholdest comen to me.’

' Mid pe ? ’ quod pe wolf. ' War to ?
Wat shulde Ich ine pe putte do ? ’

Quod pe vox : ' pou art ounwiis,

Her is pe blisse of paradiis ;

Her Ich mai evere wel fare,

Wipouten pine,6 wipouten kare ;

Her is mete, her is drinke,

Her is blisse wipouten swinke 7 ;

Her nis hounger never mo,

Ne non oper kunnes 8 wo ;

Of alle gode her is inou.’

Mid pilke wordes pe wolf9 lou.

'Art pou ded, so God pe rede,

Oper of pe worlde ? ’ pe wolf sede.

Quod pe wolf : ' Wenne storve 10 pou,
And wat dest pou pere nou ?

Ne bep nout jet pre daies ago,
pat pou and pi wif also,

And pine children, smale and grete,

Alle togedere mid me hete.11 ’

' pat is sop,’ quod pe vox,

' Gode ponk, nou hit is pus,
pat Ihc am to Criste vend 12 ;

single (OE. Sntipig)
will pot
coming
thought of

6 prayed

c pain, trouble

7 labor

8 of no other kind

s MS. volf
10 diedst
n ate
12 = wend

194

TALES

3°

Not 1 hit non of mine trend.

I nolde, for al fe worldes goed,

Ben ine fe worlde, fer Ich hem fond ;
Wat 2 shuld Ich ine fe worlde go,
per8 nis bote kare and wo,

And livie in fulfe 4 and in sunne ?

Ac her be)) joies fele cunne5;

Her bef bofe shep and get.6 ’

pe wolf have]) hounger swij)e gret,

For he nedde jare 7 i-ete ;

And ])0 he herde speken of mete,

He wolde ble]>eliche 8 ben fare.

' A ! ’ quod ]>e wolf, ' gode ifere,9
Moni goed mel f ou havest me binome 10 ;
Let me adoun to fe kome,

And al Ich wole ]>e forjeve.’

' ^e,’ quod ]>e vox, ' were }>ou isrive,11
And sunnen hevedest al forsake,

And to klene lif itake,

Ich wolde so bidde for ]>e
pat ]>ou sholdest comen to me.’

' To worn shuld Ich,’ ]>e wolfe seide,
Ben iknowe of 12 mine misdede ?

Her nis nofing alive

pat me koufe her nou srive.

pou havest ben ofte min ifere,

Woltou nou mi srift 13 ihere,

And al mi liif I shal fe telle ? ’

' Nay,’ quod fe vox, ' I nelle.’

' Neltou 14 ? ’ quod fe wolf ; ' fin ore 15 1
Ich am afingret swife sore ;

Ich wot to-nijt ich worfe ded

1 knows not

2 why (what)

8 where

4 filth, foulness
s many kinds

6 goats

7 for a long time

8 gladly

9 friend, companion (OE .geferci)

19 taken away from

11 shriven
l'2 confess

18 shrift, confession

14 wilt thou not

15 (grant) thy grace, favor (OE. or)

THE FOX AND THE WOLF

195

Bote )>ou do me somne reed.

For Cristes love, be mi prest.’

pe wolf bey 1 adoun his brest,

And gon to siken 2 harde and stronge.

' Woltou,’ quod ]>e vox, ' srift ounderfonge,8 5

Tel June sunnen on and on,4
pat ]>er bileve 5 never on.’

' Sone,’ quod pe wolf, ' wel ifaie 6 ;

Ich habbe ben qued 7 al mi lifdaie ;

Ich habbe widewene 8 kors,9 10

perfore ich fare ]>e wors.

A pousent shep ich habbe abiten,

And mo, jef hy weren iwriten,

Ac hit me ofjiinke]) 10 sore.

Maister, shal I tellen more?’ 15

' ^e,’ quod ]ie vox, ' al )>ou most sugge,11
Ojier elleswer ]>ou most abugge.12 ’

' Gossip,’ quod ]>e wolf, ' forjef hit me,

Ich habbe ofte sehid qued bi 13 ]?e.

Men seide ]>at ]>ou on fine live 20

Misferdest 14 mid mine wive ;

Ich ]>e aperseivede one stounde,

And in bedde togedere ou 16 founde ;

Ich wes ofte ou ful ney,

And in bedde togedere ou sey.16 25

Ich wende, also ojire doJ>,
pat 17 Ich iseie were so)>,

And perfore pou were me lop ;

Code gossip, ne be pou nouht 18 wropd

' Wolf,’ quod pe vox him po, 3c

'Al pat pou havest her bifore ido,

1 bowed

2 groan

8 receive

r evil

8 of widows

9 curse

10 repents (it repents me= I repent)

11 say

12 make atonement

1® said evil of
11 went astray, sinned
1® you

1® saw ; MS. ley
l" what
1® MS. nohut

4 one by one

5 remain

® gladly, fain; MS. I fare

196

TALES

In pouht,1 in speche, and in dede,

In euche operes kunnes 2 quede,

Ich pe forge ve at pisse nede.’

' Crist pe forgelde 1 ’ pe wolf seide.

' Nou Ich am in clene live,

Ne recche Ich of childe ne of wive.

Ac sei me wat I shal do,

And ou8 Ich may comen pe to.’

' Do ? ’ quod pe vox. ' Ich wille pe lere.4
Isiist pou a boket hongi pere ?
pere is a bruche of hevene blisse.8
Lep perinne, mid iwisse,

And pou shalt comen to me sone.’

Quod the wolf, ' pat is ligt to done.’

He lep in, and way 6 sumdel 7 —
pat weste 8 pe vox ful wel.
pe wolf gon sinke, pe vox arise ;
po gon pe wolf sore agrise.9
po he com amidde pe putte,
pe wolfe pene vox opward 10 mette.

' Gossip,’ quod pe wolf, ' wat nou ?

Wat havest pou imunt 11 ? weder wolt pou ? ’
' Weder Ich wille ? ’ pe vox sede.

' Ich wille oup, so God me rede !

And nou go doun wi]> ]>i meel,1’2
pi bigete 18 wor)> wel smal ;

Ac Ich am |>erof glad and blipe,
pat fou art nomen 14 in clene live,
pi soule-cnul 15 Ich wille do ringe,

And masse for pine soule singe.’

pe wrecche binepe noping ne vind
Bote cold water, and hounger him bind ;

1 MS. J>ohut

2 of every other kind
8 how

4 teach

5 opening into (chance at) heaven’s joy

6 weighed

7 somewhat

8 knew

9 to be alarmed

10 on his way up

11 meant, intended

12 toward thy meal
18 getting, spoil

14 taken

15 soul-knell

THE FOX AND THE WOLF

197

To colde gistninge1 he wes ibede2;

Vroggen8 have)) his dou iknede.4
J?e wolf in pe putte stod,

Afingret so pat he ves wod.6

Inou he cursede pat pider him broute ; 5

]?e vox perof luitel route.6

]?e put him wes pe house ney,

}^er freren woneden swipe sley.7
po pat hit com to )>e time

pat hoe shulden arisen ine, 10

For to suggen here houssong,8
O frere pere wes among,

Of here slep hem shulde awecche,

Wen hoe 9 shulden pidere recche.10

He seide : 'Arise]) on and on, 15

And komep to houssong hevereuch on.’

]?is ilke frere heyte 11 Ailmer ;

He wes hoere maister curtiler.12
He wes hofpurst swipe stronge ;

Rijt amidward here houssonge, 20

Alhone 18 to pe putte he hede,14
For he wende bete 15 his nede.

He com to pe putte, and drou,

And pe wolf wes hevi inou.

J >e frere mid al his maine 16 tey 17 25

So longe pat 18 he pene wolf isey !

For he sei pene wolf per sitte,

He gradde 19 : ' ]?e devel is in pe putte ! ’

To pe putte hy gounnen gon,

Alle mid pikes, and staves, and ston, 30

Euch mon mid pat he hedde ;

1 feast 8 matins (OE. uhtsong) 16 remedy, satisfy

2 invited 9 they 16 strength (OE. magen ; cf.

8 frogs ; MS. wroggen 10 go modern ' might and main ’)

4 dough kneaded n was named 17 pulled, tugged

5 mad, crazed 12 gardener 18 until

6 recked 78 alone 19 cried out

7 shrewd 14 went

TALES

198

Wo wes him ]?at wepne nedde.1
Hy comen to }>e putte, ]>ene wolf opdrowe 2 ;
po hede )>e wreche fomen inowe,
pat weren egre him to slete 8
5 Mid grete houndes, and to bete.

Wei and wro}>e he wes iswonge 4 ;

Mid staves and speres he wes istounge.6
pe wox bicharde 6 him, mid iwisse,

For he ne fond nones kunnes blisse,

10 Ne hof 7 duntes 8 forjevenesse.

CHAUCER, NUN’S PRIEST’S TALE: THE COCK
AND THE FOX

See the general references on Chaucer at the close of the introductory
note to Sir Thopas , p. 10S.

A povre widwe, somdel stape 9 in age,

Was whylom 10 dwelling in a narwe cotage,
Bisyde a grove, stonding in a dale.

This widwe, of which I telle yow my tale,

15 Sin thilke day that she was last a wyf,

In pacience ladde a ful simple lyf,

For litel was hir catel 11 and hir rente 12 ;

By housbondrye 13 of such as God hir sente,

She found 14 hirself, and eek hir doghtren two.
20 Three large sowes hadde she, and na mo,15

Three kyn,16 and eek a sheep that highte Malle.
Ful sooty was hir bour,17 and eek hir halle,

In which she eet ful many a sclendre meel.

Of poynaunt sauce hir neded 18 never a deel 19 ;

had not

8 blows

15 no more

drew up

9 advanced

16 cows

tear

10 once on a time

17 inner room, bedchamber

beaten

11 property

18 was necessary for her

pierced

12 income

19 not a bit

deceived

18 economy

14 supported

CHAUCER, THE NUN’S PRIEST’S TALE

No deyntee morsel passed thurgh hir throte ;

Hir dyete was accordant1 to hir cote” —
Repleccioun ne made hir never syk ;

Attempree 8 dyete was al hir phisyk,

And exercyse, and hertes suffisaunce.4
The goute lette 6 hir nothing 6 for to daunce,

N’ apoplexye shente7 nat hir heed ;

No wyn ne drank she, neither whyt ne reed ;

Hir bord 8 was served most with whyt and blak,
Milk and broun breed, in which she fond no lak,
Seynd 9 bacoun, and somtyme an ey 10 or tweye,
For she was as it were a maner11 deye.12

A yerd she hadde, enclosed al aboute
With stikkes, and a drye dich withoute,

In which she hadde a cok, hight 13 Chauntecleer.
In al the land of crowing nas 14 his peer ;

His vois was merier than the mery orgon
On messe-dayes that in the chirche gon ;

Wei sikerer 15 was his crowing in his logge 16
Than is a clokke, or an abbey -orlogge.17
By nature knew he ech ascencioun
Of equinoxial 18 in thilke toun ;

For whan degrees fiftene were ascended,19
Thanne crew he, that it mighte nat ben amended.
His comb was redder than the fyn coral,

And batailed,20 as it were a castel-wal ;

His bile21 was blak, and as the jeet22 it shoon ;
Lyk asur were his legges and his toon 23 ;

199

satisfaction)

5 prevented

6 not at all

7 injured

1 in consonance with

2 gown

8 moderate, temperate
4 a contented heart (heart’s

is called

14 there was not

15 more trustworthy

9 singed, broiled

10 egg

11 kind of

42 dairywoman

8 table

16 lodge
U clock

18 the equinoctial circle

19 when one hour was past

29 indented like a battlement

21 bill

22 jet

28 toes

17. organ : used here, as customarily at that time, in the plural.

200

TALES

His nayles whytter than the lilie-flour,

And lyk the burned 1 gold was his colour.

This gentil cok hadde in his governaunce
Sevene hennes, for to doon al his plesaunce
S Whiche were his sustres and his paramours,

And wonder lyk to him, as of 2 colours ;

Of whiche the faireste hewed on hir throte
Was cleped faire Damoysele Pertelote.

Curteys she was, discreet, and debonaire,3
io And compaignable,4 and bar hirself so faire,

Sin thilke day that she was seven night old,

That trewely she hath the herte in hold 5
Of Chauntecleer, loken in every lith 6 ;

He loved hir so, that wel was him therwith.

15 But such a joye was it to here hem singe,

Whan that the brighte sonne gan to springe,

In swete accord, ' My lief is faren in londe.’

For thilke tyme, as I have understonde,

Bestes and briddes coude speke and singe.

20 And so bifel that, in a daweninge,7

As Chauntecleer among his wyves alle
Sat on his perche, that was in the halle,

And next him sat this faire Pertelote,

This Chauntecleer gan gronen in his throte,

25 As man that in his dreem is drecched 8 sore.

And whan that Pertelote thus herde him rore
She was agast, and seyde : ' O herte dere,

What eyleth yow, to grone in this manere?

Ye been a verray sleper, fy ! for shame ! ’

30 And he answerde and seyde thus : ' Madame,

I pray yow that ye take it nat agrief 9 ;

1 burnished 4 companionable " dawn

2 as regards 6 in her possession 8 troubled

8 well-mannered 6 locked in every limb 2 amiss

17. My . . . londe : this is the first line of an old song, printed by Skeat in
the Athenceum for October 24, 1896.

CHAUCER, THE NUN’S PRIEST’S TALE

201

By God, me mette 1 I was in swich meschief
Right now, that yet myn herte is sore afright.

Now God,’ quod he, ' my swevene 2 recche8 aright,

And keep my body out of foul prisoun 1

Me mette how that I romed up and doun 5

Withinne our yerde, wheras 4 I saugh a beste,

Was lyk an hound, and wolde han maad areste6
Upon my body, and wolde han had me deed.

His colour was bitwixe yelwe and reed ;

And tipped was his tail, and bothe his eres, 10

W ith blak, unlyk the remenant of his heres ,

His snowte smal, with glowinge eyen tweye.

Yet of his look for fere almost I deye ;

This caused me my groning, doutelees.’

' Avoy 6 ! ’ quod she, ' fy on yow, hertelees ! 15

Allas ! ’ quod she, ' for, by that God above,

Now han ye lost myn herte and al my love;

I can nat love a coward, by my feith !

For certes, what so any womman seith,

WTe alle desyren, if it mighte be, 20

To han housbondes hardy, wyse, and free,7
And secree,8 and no nigard, ne no fool,

Ne him that is agast of every tool,9
Ne noon avauntour,10 by that God above !

How dorste ye seyn for shame — unto your love— 25

That any thing mighte make yow aferd ?

Have ye no mannes herte, and han a berd ?

Allas 1 and conne ye been agast of swevenis ?

Nothing, God wot, but vanitee in sweven is :

Swevenes engendren of 11 replecciouns,12 30

And ofte of fume,13 and of complecciouns,14

I dreamed 6 fie (OF. avoi) 12 surfeits

dream " generous 18 noxious vapor rising from

bring to a good issue (lit. 8 trustworthy stomach to brain

interpret) 9 instrument, weapon 14 the combination of the

where 1° boaster four humors of the body

arrest 11 are produced by in certain proportions

202

TALES

Whan humours been to habundant in a wight.
Certes this dreem, which ye han met 1 to-night,
Cometh of the grete superfluitee
Of youre rede colera ,2 pardee,

Which causeth folk to dreden in here dremes
Of arwes,3 and of fyr with rede lemes,4
Of grete bestes, that they wol hem byte,

Of contek,5 and of whelpes 6 grete and lyte 7 ;

Right as the humour of malencolye
Causeth ful many a man, in sleep, to crye,

For fere of blake beres, or boles 8 blake,

Or elles blake develes wole hem take.

Of othere humours coude I telle also,

That werken many a man in sleep ful wo ;

But I wol passe as lightly as I can.

Lo Catoun,9 which that was so wys a man,

Seyde he nat thus, Ne do no fors of 10 dremes ?
Now, sire,’ quod she, ' whan we flee fro the bemes,
For Goddes love, as tak 11 som laxatyf ;

Up 12 peril of my soule and of my lyf,

I counseille yow the beste — - 1 wol nat lye —

That bothe of colere and of malencolye
Ye purge yow; and, for18 ye shul nat tarie,

Though in this toun is noon apotecarie,

I shal myself to herbes techen 14 yow,

That shul ben for your hele 15 and for your prow 16 ;
And in our yerd tho herbes shal I finde,

The whiche han of hir propretee, by kinde,17
To purgen yow binethe, and eek above.

Forget not this, for Goddes owene love !

Ye been ful colerik of compleccioun ;

1 dreamed

7 small

8 bulls

0 Dionysii Catonis Disticha

12 on

13 in order that

2 one of the four so-called humors

3 arrows

4 flames

de Moribus ad Filiiim

10 pay no heed to

11 pray take

14 direct

15 healing
I® profit
17 nature

6 strife, contest
6 dogs

CHAUCER, THE NUN’S PRIEST'S TALE

203

Ware 1 the sonne in his ascencioun
Ne fynde yow nat repleet of humours hote ;

And if it do, I dar wel leye a grote,2
That ye shul have a fevere terciane 8
Or an agu, that may be youre bane.

A day or two ye shul have digestyves
Of wormes, er ye take your laxatyves,

Of lauriol,4 centaure,5 and fumetere,6
Or elles of ellebor 7 that groweth there,

Of catapuce 8 or of gaytres beryis,9
Of erbe yve,10 growing in our yerd, ther mery is ;
Pekke hem up right as they growe, and ete hem in.
Be mery, housbond, for your fader 11 kin !

Dredeth no dreem ; I can say yow namore.’

' Madame,’ quod he, ' graunt mercy 12 of your lore 1
But nathelees, as touching daun 13 Catoun,

That hath of wisdom such a greet renoun,

Though that he bad no dremes for to drede,

By God, men may in olde bokes rede
Of many a man, more of auctoritee
Than ever Catoun was, so mote I thee,14
That al the revers 15 seyn of his sentence,16
And han wel founden by experience
That dremes ben significaciouns
As wel of joye as tribulaciouns
That folk enduren in this lyf present.

Ther nedeth make of this noon argument ;

The verray preve 17 sheweth it in dede.

Oon of the gretteste auctours 18 that men rede
Seith thus, that whylom two felawes wente
On pilgrimage, in a ful good entente ;

1 beware lest

2 groat

3 tertian

4 spurge-laurel

5 centaury

6 fumitory

7 hellebore

10 herb ivy (ground pine?)

11 father’s

12 great thanks (gramercy)

9 dogwood berries (some¬
times those of other
similar shrubs)

8 lesser spurge (caper spurge)

18 lord, sir (Lat. dominus)

U so may I prosper
IS opposite
is opinion

17 proof

18 Cicero, in his De Divina-

tione

204

TALES

And happed . so, thay come into a toun
Wheras ther was swich congregacioun 1
Of peple, and 2 * eek so streit 8 of herbergage,4 *
That they ne founde as muche as o 8 cotage
5 In which they bothe mighte ylogged 6 be.

Wherfor thay mosten, of necessitee,

As for that night, departen 7 compaignye ;

And ech of hem goth to his hostelrye,

And took his logging as it wolde falle. 8
io That oon of hem was logged in a stalle,

Fer in a yerd, with oxen of the plough ;

That other man was logged wel ynough,

As was his aventure,9 or his fortune,

That us governeth alle as in commune.10
15 And so bifel that, longe er it were day,

This man mette in his bed, ther as 11 he lay,

How that his felawe gan upon him calle,

And seyde : " Allas ! for in an oxes stalle
This night I shal be mordred ther I lye.

2c Now help me, dere brother, er I dye ;

In alle haste com to me,” he sayde.

This man out of his sleep for fere abrayde 12 ;

But whan that he was wakned of his sleep,

He turned him, and took of this no keep 13 ;

2 5 Him thoughte 14 his dreem nas but a vanitee.15

Thus twyes in his sleping dremed he ;

And atte thridde tyme yet his felawe

Cam, as him thoughte, and seide : " I am now slawe 16 ;

Bihold my blody woundes, depe and wyde !

3° Arys up erly in the morwe-tyde,17

And at the west gate of the toun,” quod he,

1 concourse, gathering

2 supply which was

8 scanty

4 lodgings

8 one

6 lodged

7 part

8 happen

9 chance
1° general

11 where

12 started up

18 notice, heed

14 it seemed to him that

15 delusion
15 slain

17 morning

CHAUCER, THE NUN’S PRIEST’S TALE 205

" A carte ful of dong1 ther shaltow see,

In which my body is hid ful prively ;

Do 2 thilke carte aresten 3 boldely.

My gold caused my mordre, sooth to sayn ; ”

And tolde him every poynt how he was slayn, 5

With a ful pitous face, pale of hewe.

And truste wel, his dreem he fond ful trewe ;

For on the rnorwe, as sone as it was day,

To his felawes in 4 he took the way ;

And whan that he cam to this oxes stalle, 10

After his felawe he bigan to calle.

The hostiler5 answerde him anon,

And seyde : " Sire, your felawe is agon ;

As sone as day he wente out of the toun.”

This man gan fallen in suspecioun, 15

Remembring on his dremes that he mette,

And forth he goth, no lenger wolde he lette,6
Unto the west gate of the toun, and fond
A dong-carte, as it were to donge 7 lond,

That was arrayed in the same wyse 20

As ye han herd the dede man devyse 8 ;

And with an hardy herte he gan to crye
Vengeaunce and justice of 9 this felonye :

" My felawe mordred is this same night,

And in this carte he lyth 10 gapinge upright.11 25

I crye out on the ministres,” quod he,

" That sholden kepe 12 and reulen 13 this citee ;

Harrow 14 ! alias I her lyth my felawe slayn ! ”

What sholde I more unto this tale sayn ?

The peple outsterte,13 and caste the cart to grounde, 30

And in the middel of the dong they founde

dung

cause

to be stopped
inn

innkeeper

6 delay

7 cover with manure

8 relate

9 for

1° lieth

11 on his back

12 watch over

13 rule

14 a cry of distress

15 started out

206

TALES

The dede man, that mordred was al newe.1
O blisful God, that art so just and trewe !

Lo, how that thou biwreyest 2 mordre alway I
Mordre wol out — that see we day by day.

Mordre is so wlatsom3 and abhominable
To God, that is so just and resonable,

That he ne wol nat suffre it heled 4 be ;

Though it abyde a yeer, or two, or three,

Mordre wol out — this ’s my conclusioun.

And right anoon, ministres of that toun
Han hent 6 the carter, and so sore him pyned,6
And eek the hostiler so sore engyned,7
That thay biknewe 8 hir wikkednesse anoon,

And were anhanged by the nekke-boon.

Here may men seen that dremes been to drede.

And certes, in the same book I rede,

Right in the nexte chapitre after this
— I gabbe9 nat, so have I joye or blis —

Two men that wolde han passed over see,

For certeyn cause, into a fer contree,

If that the wind ne hadde been contrarie,

That made hem in a citee for to tarie,

That stood ful mery upon an haven-svde.

But on a day, agayn 10 the eventyde,

The wind gan chaunge, and blew right as hem leste.11
Jolif 12 and glad they wente unto hir reste,

And casten 18 hem ful erly for to saille ;

But to that oo 14 man hi 18 a greet mervaille.

That oon of hem, in sleping as he lay,

Him mette a wonder dreem, agayn 10 the day :

Him thoughte 16 a man stood by his beddes syde,

1 recently

2 dost make manifest, bring to

6 tortured

7 racked

12 in good spirits

13 proposed
n one

is befell

16 it seemed to him

light

8 confessed

9 lie

10 towards

11 was agreeable to them

8 heinous
4 concealed
s seized

CHAUCER, THE NUN’S PRIEST’S TALE

207

And him comaunded that he sholde abyde,

And seyde him thus : "If thou to-morwe wende,
Thou shalt be dreynt 1 ; my tale is at an ende.”

He wook, and tolde his felavve what he mette,

And preyde him his viage 2 for to lette 3 ;

As for that day, he preyde him to abyde.

His felawe, that lay by his beddes syde,

Gan for to laughe, and scorned him ful faste.

" No dreem,” quod he, " may so myn herte agaste,
That I wol lette for to do my thinges.4
I sette not a straw by thy dreminges,

For swevenes been but vanitees and japes6:

Men dreme alday 6 of owles or of apes,

And eke of many a mase 7 therwithal ;

Men dreme of thing that never was ne shal.*

But sith I see that thou wolt heer abyde,

And thus forsleuthen 9 wilfully thy tyde,10
God wot it reweth me 11 ; and have good day.”
And thus he took his leve, and wente his way.

But er that he hadde halfe his cours yseyled,

Noot 1 12 nat why, ne what mischaunce it eyled,13
But casuelly 14 the shippes botme 15 rente,16
And ship and man under the water wente,

In sighte of othere shippes it byside,

That with hem seyled at the same tyde.

And therfor, faire Pertelote so dere,

By swiche ensamples olde maistow lere,17
That no man sholde been to recchelees 18
Of dremes, for I sey thee, doutelees,

That many a dreem ful sore is for to drede.

Lo, in the lyf of Seint Kenelrn I rede —

- journey

3 abandon, give up

4 business affairs
6 jests, tricks

6 continually

1 drowned
- iournev

8 shall be

9 waste in sloth
1° time

11 I am sorry

12 I know not

~ bewildering situation

is (there) ailed

14 by accident

15 bottom
is split

l' mayst thou learn
is heedless

208

TALES

That was Kenulphus 1 sone, the noble king
Of Mercenrike 2 — how Kenelm mette a thing ;
A lyte 3 er he was mordred, on a day,

His mordre in his avisioun 4 he say.5
His norice 6 him expouned 7 every del 8
His sweven, and bad him for to kepe 9 him wel
For 10 traisoun ; but he nas but seven yeer old,
And therfore litel tale hath he told 11
Of any dreem, so holy was his herte.

By God, I hadde lever than my sherte
That ye had rad his legende, as have I.

Dame Pertelote, I sey yow trewely,

Macrobeus, that writ th’ avisioun
In Affrike of the worthy Cipioun,

Affermeth dremes, and seith that they been
Warning of thinges that men after 12 seen.

And forthermore, I pray yow loketh wel
In the Olde Testament, of 18 Daniel,

If he held dremes any vanitee.

Reed eek of Joseph, and ther shul ye see
Wher 14 dremes ben somtyme • — I sey nat alle —
Warning of thinges that shul after falle.

Loke of Egipt the king, Daun Pharao,

His bakere and his boteler also,

Wher 14 they ne felte noon effect 15 in dremes.
Whoso wol seken actes of sondry remes,16
May rede of dremes many a wonder thing.

Lo Cresus, which that was of Lyde 17 king,

Mette he nat that he sat upon a tree,

1 Kenulf (died 819) 7 explained

2 Mercia 8 bit

8 little 9 guard

4 vision 1° against

8 saw U account hath he made

6 nurse 42 afterwards

13 as to

14 whether

15 reality
I® realms
1" Lydia

13. avisioun : the Somnium Scipionis of Cicero, with a commentary by
Macrobius.

29. For this dream, cf. the Monk's Tale.

CHAUCER, THE NUN’S PRIEST’S TALE

209

Which signified he sholde anhanged be ?

Lo heer Andromacha, Ectores 1 wyf,

That day that Ector sholde lese his lyf,

She dremed on the same night biforn
How that the lyf of Ector sholde be lorn,2
If thilke day he wente into bataille.

She warned him, but it mighte nat availle ;

He wente for to fighte nathelees,

But he was slayn anoon of Achilles.

But thilke tale is al to long to telle,

And eek it is ny 3 day, I may nat dwelle.4
Shortly I seye, as for conclusioun,

That I shal han of this avisioun
Adversitee ; and I seye, forthermore,

That I ne telle5 of laxatyves no store,

For they ben venimous,6 I woot it wel ;

I hem defye, I love hem never a del.7

Now let us speke of mirthe, and stinte 8 al this ;

Madame Pertelote, so have I blis,

Of o thing God hath sent me large grace ;

For whan I see the beautee of your face,

Ye ben so scarlet-reed about your yen,9
It maketh al my drede for to dyen ;

For, also siker 10 as In principle ,u
Mulier est hominis confusio ;

Madame, the sentence 12 of this Latin is :

" Womman is mannes joye and al his blis.”

For whan I fele anight 13 your softe syde, . . ,14

I am so ful of joye and of solas

That I defye bothe sweven and dreem.’

And with that word he fley doun fro the beem,

1 Hector’s

2 lost

8 nearly

4 continue

5 set

6 poisonous

7 never a whit

8 cease

9 eyes
10 sure

n John 1. 1
12 meaning
18 by night
14 Two lines omitted

2. In Dares Phrygius, not in Homer.

210

TALES

For it was day, and eek his hennes alle ;

And with a chuk 1 he gan hem for to calle,

For he had founde a corn, lay 2 in the yerd ;

Royal he was, he was namore aferd. . . .8
He loketh as it were a grim leoun ;

And on his toos he rometh up and doun,

Him deyned 4 not to sette his foot to grounde.

He chukketh whan he hath a corn yfounde,

And to him rennen thanne his wyves alle.

Thus royal, as a prince is in his halle,

Leve I this Chauntecleer in his pasture ;

And after wol I telle his aventure.

Whan that the month in which the world bigan,
That highte March, whan God first maked man,
Was complet, and [yjpassed were also,

Sin March was goon,6 [wel] thritty dayes and two,
Bifel that Chauntecleer, in al his pryde,

His seven wyves walking by his syde,

Caste up his eyen to the brighte sonne,

That in the signe of Taurus hadde yronne 6
Twenty degrees and oon, and somwhat more ;

And knew by kynde,7 and by noon other lore,8
That it was pryme,9 and crew with blisful stevene.10
' The sonne,’ he sayde, ' is clomben up on hevene
Fourty degrees and oon, and more, ywis.

Madame Pertelote, my worldes blis,

Herkneth thise 11 blisful briddes how they singe,
And see the fresshe floures how they springe ;

Ful is myn herte of revel and solas.’

But sodeinly him fil a sorweful cas,12

1 cluck 5 MS. bigan (for was goon)

2 that lay 8 run, progressed

8 Two lines omitted nature

4 he deigned 8 teaching

9 about 9 a.m.

10 voice, sound

11 these

12 misfortune

14. maked : this was a mediaeval idea.
16. This would make the date May 3.

CHAUCER, THE NUN’S PRIEST’S TALE

21 I

For ever the latter ende of joye is wo.

God woot that worldly joye is sone ago 1 ;

And if a rethor2 coude faire endyte,3
He in a cronique 4 saufly 6 mighte it wryte,

As for a sovereyn notabilitee.8 5

Now every wys man, lat him herkne me;

This storie is also trewe, I undertake,

As is the book of Launcelot de Lake,

That wommen holde in ful gret reverence.

Now wol I torne agayn to my sentence.7 io

A colfox,8 ful of sly iniquitee,

That in the grove hadde woned9 yeres three,

By 10 heigh imaginacioun forncast,11

The same night thurghout the hegges 12 brast 13

Into the yerd, ther Chauntecleer the faire 15

Was wont, and eek his wyves, to repaire ;

And in a bed of wortes 14 stille he lay,

Til it was passed undern 15 of the day,

Wa’yting his tyme on Chauntecleer to falle,

As gladly16 doon thise17 homicydes alle, 20

That in awayt 18 liggen 19 to mordre men.

O false mordrer, lurking in thy den !

O newe Scariot,20 newe Genilon 21 !

False dissimilour,22 O Greek Smon,

That broghtest Troye al outrely 28 to sorwe ! 25

O Chauntecleer, acursed be that morwe,

That thou into that yerd dough 24 fro the bemes !

Thou were ful wel y warned by thy dremes
That thilke day was perilous to thee,

1 past

2 skilled writer
8 compose

4 chronicle

5 safely

6 supremely notable fact
1 subject

8 brant fox (having a large inter-

12 hedges
18 burst
14 herbs

10 as a result of

11 premeditated

9 dwelt

is waiting
is lie

20 Iscariot

21 Ganelon, who betrayed

15 about 11 a.m.
is generally
U these

Roland
22 dissembler
28 utterly
24 flew

mixture of black in its fur)

212

TALES

But what that 1 God forwoot 2 mot nedes be,

After8 the opinioun of certeyn clerkis ;

Witnesse on him that any perfit clerk is
That in scole is gret altercacioun
5 In this matere, and greet disputisoun,

And hath ben of an hundred thousand men.

But I ne can not bulte it to the bren,4
As can the holy doctour Augustyn,

Or Boece,5 or the bishop Bradwardyn,0
io Whether that Goddes worthy forwiting 7

Streyneth 8 me nedely9 for to doon a thing
(Nedely clepe I simple necessitee) ;

Or elles, if free choys be graunted me
To do that same thing, or do it noght,

1 5 Though God forwoot it er that it was wroght ;

Or if his witing streyneth nevere a del
But by necessitee condicionel.

I wol not han to do of swich matere ;

My tale is of a cok, as ye may here,

20 That took his counseil of his wyf, with sorwe,

To walken in the yerd upon that morwe
That he had met 10 the dreem that I yow tolde.
Wommennes counseils been ful ofte colde 11 :

Wommannes counseil broghte us first to wo,

25 And made Adam fro Paradys to go,

Ther as 12 he was ful mery, and wel at ese.

But for 13 I noot 14 to whom it mighte displese,

If 1 counseil of wommen wolde blame,

Passe over, for I seyde it in my game.15
30 Rede auctours wher they trete of swich matere,

1 that which 6 Archbishop of Canterbury in the four- 10 dreamed

2 foreknows teenth century, and a divinity pro- 11 disastrous

3 according to fessor and chancellor of Oxford 12 where

4 bolt it to the bran, sift foreknowledge 13 since

it thoroughly 8 compels, constrains 14 know not

5 Boethius 9 necessarily 13 fun, sport

17. Conditional necessity, according to Boethius, implies knowledge : if
one knows that a man is walking, then he is, necessarily, walking.

CHAUCER, THE NUN’S PRIEST’S TALE 213

And what thay seyn of wommen ye may here.

Thise 1 been 2 the cokkes wordes, and nat myne ;

I can 3 noon harm of no womman divyne.

Faire in the sond,4 to bathe hir merily,

Lyth '7 Pertelote, and alle hir sustres by, 5

Agayn b the sonne ; and Chauntecleer so free
Song merier than the mennayde in the see —

For Phisiologus seith sikerly

How that they singen wel and merily.

And so bifel that, as he caste his ye, 10

Among the wortes, on a boterflye,

He was war 7 of this fox that lay ful lowe.

Nothing ne liste him 8 thanne for to crowe,

But cryde anon, ' Cok, cok,’ and up he sterte,

As man that was affrayed in his herte; 15

For naturelly a beest desyreth flee
Fro his contrarie,9 if he may it see,

Though he never erst 10 had seyn it with his ye.

This Chauntecleer, whan he gan him espye,

He wolde han fled, but that the fox anon 20

Seyde : ' Gentil sire, alias ! wher wol ye gon ?

Be ye affrayed of me that am your freend ?

Now certes, I were worse than a feend,11
If I to yow wolde 12 harm or vileinye.

I am nat come your counseil for t’ espye ; 25

But trewely, the cause of my cominge
Was only for to herkne how that ye singe,

For trewely ye have as mery a stevene 13
As eny aungel hath that is in hevene ;

Therwith ye han in musik more felinge 30

Than hadde Boece,14 or any that can singe.

1 these

2 are

8 know
* sand
S lieth

6 exposed to
f aware

8 it pleased him not at all

9 opposite, foe
1° before

11 fiend, devil

12 wished
18 voice

14 Boethius wrote a treatise,

De Musica

8. In the section De Sirenis. For the Physiologies in general, see p. 316.

3°

214

TALES

My lord your fader — God his soule blesse ! —

And eek your moder, of hir gentilesse,

Han in myn hous ybeen, to my gret ese 1 ;

And certes, sire, ful fayn wolde I yow plese.

But for men speke of singing, I wol saye —

So mote I brouke 2 wel myn eyen tweye 1 —

Save yow, I herde never man so singe,

As dide your fader in the morweninge ;

Certes, it was of herte, al that he song.

And, for to make his voys the more strong,

He wolde so peyne him 8 that with bothe his yen
He moste winke, so loude he wolde cryen,

And stonden on his tiptoon therwithal,

And strecche forth his nekke long and smal.

And eek he was of swich discrecioun
That ther nas no man in no regioun
That him in song or wisdom mighte passe.

I have wel rad in Daun Burnel the Asse,

Among his vers, how that ther was a cok,

For that a preestes sone yaf him a knok
Upon his leg, whyl he was yong and nyce,4
He made him for to lese his benefyce.

But certeyn, ther nis no comparisoun
Bitwix the wisdom and discrecioun
Of youre fader, and of his subtiltee.

Now singeth, sire, for seinte charitee ;

Let see, conne ye your fader countrefete 5 ? ’

This Chauntecleer his winges gan to bete,

As man that coude his tresoun nat espye,

So was he ravisshed with his flaterye.

Allas ! ye lordes, many a fals flatour 6
Is in your courtes, and many a losengeour,7

1 delight 3 take such pains 5 imitate 7 deceiver

2 enjoy 4 foolish 6 flatterer

18. Nigellus Wireker wrote the Bumellus, or Speculum Stultorum, in the
twelfth century.

CHAUCER, THE NUN'S PRIEST’S TALE

215

That plesen yow wel more, by my feith.

Than he that soothfastnesse 1 unto yow seith.

Redeth Ecclesiaste 2 3 of 8 flaterye ;

Beth war,4 * ye lordes, of hir 6 trecherye.

This Chauntecleer stood hye upon his toos,
Strecching his nekke, and heeld his eyen cloos,6
And gan to crowe loude for the nones 7 ;

And Daun Russel the fox sterte up at ones,

And by the gargat 8 hente 9 Chauntecleer,

And on his bak toward the wode him beer,10
For yet ne was ther no man that him sewed.11

O destinee, that mayst nat been eschewed 12 !
Allas, that Chauntecleer fleigh fro the bemes !

Allas, his wyf ne roghte 13 nat of dremes !

And on a Friday fil 14 al this meschaunce.

O Venus, that art goddesse of plesaunce,

Sin 13 that thy servant was this Chauntecleer,

And in thy service dide al his poweer,

More for delyt, than world to multiplye,

Why woldestow suffre him on thy day to dye ?

O Gaufred,16 dere mayster soverayn,

That, whan thy worthy King Richard was slayn
With shot, compleynedest 17 his deth so sore,

Why ne hadde I now thy sentence 18 and thy lore,
The Friday for to chyde,19 as diden ye
(For on a Friday soothly slayn was he) ?

Than wolde I shewe yow how that I coude pleyne 20
For Chauntecleres drede, and for his peyne.

Certes, swich cry ne lamentacioun
Was never of ladies maad whan Uioun

1 truth

2 Ecclesiasticus 12. 10, 11, 16

3 on

4 beware

8 their

6 closed

< for the occasion

8 throat

9 seized

10 bore

11 pursued

12 escaped
48 recked

14 happened

ls since

18 Geoffrey de Vinsauf

17 didst lament

18 judgment

19 blame

20 lament

21 6

TALES

i.5

Was wonne, and Pirrus 1 with his streite 2 swerd,
Whan he hadde hent King Priam by the berd,
And slayn him — as saith us Eneydos —

As maden alle the hennes in the clos,8
Whan they had seyn of Chauntecleer the sighte.
But sovereynly 4 Dame Pertelote shrighte,5
Ful louder than dide Hasdrubales 6 wyf
Whan that hir housbond hadde lost his lyf,

And that the Romayns hadde brend 7 Cartage ;
She was so ful of torment and of rage
That wilfully into the fyr she sterte,

And brende hirselven with a stedfast herte.

O woful hennes, right so cryden ye
As, whan that Nero brende the citee
Of Rome, cryden senatoures wyves,

For that hir 8 housbondes losten alle hir lyves ;
Withouten gilt this Nero hath hem slayn.

Now wol I torne to my tale agayn.

This sely 9 widwe, and eek hir doghtres two,
Herden thise hennes crye and maken wo ;

And out at dores sterten they anoon,

And syen the fox toward the grove goon,

And bar upon his bak the cok away ;

And cryden, ' Out 10 ! harrow 11 ! and weylaway 1
Ha, ha, the fox ! ’ and after him they ran,

And eek with staves many another man ;

Ran Colle our dogge, and Talbot, and Gerland,
And Malkin, with a distaf in hir hand ;

Ran cow and calf, and eek the verray hogges —
So were they fered 12 for berking of the dogges
And shouting of the men and wimmen eke ;
They ronne so, hem thoughte hir herte breke.

i.5

1 Pyrrhus

2 drawn

6 General of Carthage, when it was

burned
r burned

8 their

9 good

1° alas
n help
12 frightened

3 enclosure

4 most of all
6 shrieked

CHAUCER, THE NUN'S PRIEST'S TALE

217

They yelleden as feendes doon in helle ;

The dokes cryden as men wolde hem quelle 1 ;

The gees for fere flowen over the trees ;

Out of the hyve cam the swarm of bees ;

So hidous was the noyse, a 1 benedicite 2 !

Certes he, Jakke Straw,3 and his meynee,4
Ne made never shoutes half so shrille
Whan that they wolden any Fleming® kille,

As thilke day was maad upon the fox.

Of bras thay broghten bemes,6 and of box,7
Of horn, of boon, in whiche they blewe and pouped,8
And therwithal thay shryked and they houped,9
It semed as that heven sholde falle.

Now, gode men, I pray yow herkneth alle 1
Lo, how fortune turneth sodeinly
The hope and pryde eek of hir enemy !

This cok, that lay upon the foxes bak,

In al his drede, unto the fox he spak,

And seyde : ' Sire, if that I were as ye,

Yet sholde I seyn — as wis God helpe me ! —

" Turneth agayn, ye proude cherles alle 1
A verray pestilence upon yow falle !

Now am I come unto this wodes syde,

Maugree your heed, the cok shal heer abyde ;

I wol him ete in feith, and that anon.” ’

The fox answerde : ' In feith, it shal be don ; ’

And as he spak that word, al sodeinly
This cok brak from his mouth deliverly,10
And heighe upon a tree he fleigh anon.

And whan the fox saugh that he was ygon,

' Allas ! ’ quod he, ' O Chauntecleer, alias !

I have to yow,’ quod he, ' ydoon trespas,

Inasmuche as I maked yow aferd,

bless us ; pron. bencite
(in the rebellion of 1381)
followers

kill

8 any Flemish merchant in
London

8 tooted

9 whooped

10 nimbly, skilfully

8 trumpets
‘ boxwood

TALES

218

Whan I yow hente, and broghte out of the yerd ;

But, sire, I dide it in no wikke entente ;

Com doun, and I shal telle yow what I mente ;

I shal seye sooth to yow, God help me so.’

5 ' Nay than,’ quod he, ' I shrewe 1 us bothe two,

And first I shrewe myself, bothe blood and bones,

If thou bigyle me ofter than ones.

Thou shalt namore, thurgh thy flaterye,

Do me to singe and winke with myn ye.

10 For he that winketh whan he sholde see,

A1 wilfully, God lat him never thee 2 1 ’

' Nay,’ quod the fox, ' but God yeve him meschauncc
That is so undiscreet of governaunce,

That jangleth whan he sholde holde his pees ! ’

1 5 Lo, swich it is for to be recchelees 8

And necligent, and truste on flaterye !

But ye that holden this tale a folye,

As of a fox, or of a cok and hen,

Taketh the moralitee, good men ;

20 For Seint Paul seith 4 that al that writen is,

To our doctryne it is y write, ywis.

Taketh the fruyt, and lat the chaf be stille.

Now, gode God, if that it be thy wille,

As seith my lord,8 so make us alle good men,

25 And bringe us to his heighe blisse ! Amen.

1 curse 8 heedless 5 the Archbishop of Canterbury, as

2 prosper 4 2 Tim. 3. 16 a manuscript note explains

CHRONICLES

LAYAMON, BRUT

Our chief information concerning Layamon is derived from the first extract
printed below. In the later manuscript, ' Lajamon’ is ' Laweman’; and indeed
the word means ' lawman,’ a kind of magistrate. ' Ernlejje ’ is Ar(e)ley Regis,
or King's Ar(e)ley, just south of Stourport, where the Stour joins the Severn,
and about ten miles north (slightly northwest) of Worcester. ' Radestone ’ is
Redstone, a high cliff in the neighborhood.

Layamon goes on to say that it came into his mind to relate the history
of England from the beginning, and that, in order to this, he journeyed up
and down the country to procure the books he needed. Though he carries
his story only down to 689, it consists of some 16,120 long lines, written about
1205. Ilis chief source was Wace’s Roman de Brut (1205), yet the earlier
manuscript of Layamon contains, according to B. S. Monroe ( Modern Philology
4. 567), only 87 French words. In common with Wace, or rather through Wace,
he is ultimately dependent on Geoffrey of Monmouth’s Histories of the Kings
of Britain (before 1148), the ultimate source of so much romance dealing with
' the matter of Britain.’ Geoffrey’s book has been excellently translated by
Sebastian Evans (Temple Classics).

Of the two manuscripts, the second may be a half century or so later than
the first. Our extracts are taken from the first, as given in the standard edition,
Madden’s (3 vols., London, 1847), with the latter’s short lines printed as long
ones (but Madden’s numbering is retained). For further information, see the
preface to Madden’s edition ; the Diet. Nat. Biog. ; Camb. Hist. Eng. Lit.
1. 260-4; Monroe, four. Eng. and Germ. Phil. 7. 139-41 (bibliography).

LAYAMON’S ACCOUNT OF HIMSELF

Lines 1-10 (Madden 1. 1)

An preost 1 wes on leoden,2 Layamon wes ihoten 3 ;

He wes LeovenaSes sone ■ — lifie 4 him beo Drihten 5 !

He wonede 6 at Ernleje, at aefielen 7 are 8 chirechen,9
Uppen Sevarne stape 10 — sel 11 par him puhte12 —

On fest 13 Radestone ; per he bock radde.14 5

1 priest 5 the Lord

2 among the people 6 lived

3 named " noble

4 merciful 8 a

9 church 18 hard by

1° bank 14 read

n good, pleasant
12 seemed

219

220

CHRONICLES

THE PROPHECY OF DIANA

Lines 1097-1252 (Madden 1.47-53). Cf. Geoffrey of Monmouth, Book I,
chap, ii, and Milton’s translation of it in his History of Britain-

Brutus nom 1 Ignogen, and into scipe laedde.

Heo 2 rihten 3 heora rapes, heo raerden 4 heora mastes,

Heo wunden up seiles ; wind stod 5 an willen.6
Sixtene sitie 7 tuenti scipen tuhten 8 from havene,

And feower scipen greate pe weren grundladene 9
Mid Jrat beste wepnen pa Brutus havede.

Heo fusden 10 from stronde ut of Griclonde 11 ;

Heo wenden ut i wide sas ; pa wilde 12 wurSen itemede.13
Tweije dawes and tua niht inne sae weren ;

)?en oSer 14 dai heo comen liSen 15 on aeven to londe.

Logice 16 hatte 17 pat eitlond 18 ; leode 19 nere par nane —

Ne wapmen 20 ne wifmen — buten 21 westije 22 paeftes.23
Utlajen24 hefden iraeved25 pat lond, and alle pa leoden ofslajren 26 ;
And swa hit wes al west,27 and wnnen 28 biraeved,

Ah 29 swa monie par waren wilde deor 80 pat wnder 31 heom puhte32;
And pa Troinisce men tuhten to pon deoren,

And duden of pan wilden al heora iwilla.38
To pan scipen waelden.34

Heo funden i pon eitlonde ane burh 86 swifte stronge ;

Tohaelde 36 weoren pe walles, weste weren hallen.

Temple heo funden par ane, imaked of marmestaene,

Muchel and maere 37 ; pe wrse 88 hit hafde to welden.39

1 took

2 they

3 put in order

4 raised

3 MS. ston

8 was favorable

7 times

8 departed

9 deeply laden

1° hastened

14 Greece

12 wild (men)

43 tamed

voyaging

Leogecia; position unknown
hight

eyotland (island)

people

men

only

desert

MS. paedes

outlaws

devastated

slain

27 waste

28 (of) habitations
22 but

80 animals

31 wonder

32 seemed
ss Win

34 carried

35 city

36 tottering
3" glorious
38 devil

32 rule

LAYAMON, BRUT

221

p>erinne was an onlicnesse 1 a 2 wifmonnes liche 8 ;

Feier hit wes and swifie heih4; an 6 are6 haeitnesse7 nome,
Diana wes ihaten 8 ; fe deovel heo luvede.

Heo dude wndercraftes 9 ; |>e scucke 10 hire fulste.11
Heo wes quen of alle wodes fe wreoxen 12 on eorften ;

A 13 fon hehene lawen me 14 heold heo for hehne 15 godd.

To hire weoren iwoned 16 fa wndercreftie men ;

Of fa f ingen 17 fa weren to kumen heo heom wolde cuSen 18
Mid tacnen 19 and mid swefnen,'20 fonne heo weren on slaepe.
pe wile feo on ]>an eitlonde wes folc woniende,21
Heo wurSeden 22 ]>at anlicnes ;• fe scucke hit 23 onfeng.24

Brutus hit herde siggen 26 furh his saemonnen
pe aer 26 weoren on ]>an londe, and pa lawen wusten.

Brutus nam twelf witijen,27 fe weren his wiseste men,

And enne preost of his lawen, pa weren on pan heften dawen 28
(Gerion hehte }>e preost ; he was an hirede 29 haeh) ;

He ferde 30 to fere stowe 31 par Diane inne stod.

Brutus ferde into fere temple, and pa twelfe mid him,

And lette al his folc bilaeven 32 ferute.88

Ana scale 34 he bear an honde, al of reade golde ;

Mile wes i fere scale, and win sume dale 36 ;

pa mile wass of are wite hinde, fe Brutus sceat mid his honde.

He makede bi fon weofede 36 a swifie 37 wunsum 38 fur ;

Nijen siften 39 he bieode 40 fat weofed, for his neode.41
He clepede42 to fere levedi43 — heo wes him on heorten leof44*

1 image

16 accustomed to resort

34 place

2 in

17 MS. kingen

32 remain

3 form

IS tell

33 outside

4 majestic

19 signs

34 dish

s by

20 visions

35 part

6 a

24 dwelling

36 altar

7 heathen religion’s (?)

22 worshiped

37 most

8 called

23 (the worship ?)

33 winsome

9 sorceries

24 received

39 times

1(1 fiend

25 Say

40 circled about

11 aided

26 formerly

41 need

l2 grew

27 prophets

42 cried

13 by

28 days

43 lady

I4 one, they

29 among the people

44 dear

13 high

31 proceeded

222

CHRONICLES

Mid milden his worden he girnde 1 hire mihten.

Ofte he custe 2 pat weofed mid wnsume lates 3 ;

He halde 4 pa mile in pat fur mid milden his worden :

' Leafdi Diana, leove Diana, hege Diana, help me to neode.

Wise 6 mi and witere,6 purh pine witful 7 craft,

Whuder Ich maei lifian,8 and ledan mine leoden

To ane wnsume londe, per9 ich mihte wunien.10

And gif Ich pat lond mai bigeten,11 and mi folc hit purhgengen,12

Makian Ich wile on pine nome maeren 13 ane stowe,

And Ich pe wulle huren 14 mid wrhscipe haegan.15 ’

}?us spec Brutus.

SeoSSen 16 he nam pe hude 17 pa waes of pare hinde ;

Biforen pan wefede he heo spradde, swlc 18 he leie on bedde ;

He cnelede par ufenan,19 and seohSen he adun laei ;

Swa he gon slomnen,20 and peraefter to slepen.
pa puhte him on his swefne, par he on slepe laei,
pat his lavedi Diana hine leofliche 21 biheolde
Mid wnsume leahtren 22 ; wel heo him bihihte,23
And hendiliche 24 hire hond on his heved leide,

And pus him to seide, per he on slepe lai :

' Bigende 25 France, i pet west, pu scalt finden a wunsum lond ;
pat lond is biurnan 26 mid paere sae ; paron pu scalt wrpan 27 sael.28
par is fugel, par is fisc ; per wuniah feire deor ;
par is wode, par is water ; par is wilderne 29 muchel.

J>et lond is swipe wunsum ; weaken 80 per beoft feire ;

WuniaS in pon londe eotanes 81 swiSe stronge.

Albion hatte pat lond, ah leode ne beoh par nane.
perto ]>u scalt teman,32 and ane neowe Troye par makian ;

1 besought

2 kissed
8 looks

4 poured

5 guide

6 instruct

7 MS. wihtful

8 journey

9 where
1° dwell
n obtain

12 overrun
18 noble
14 adore
16 high
16 afterward
77 hide

18 as if

19 upon

20 drowse

21 lovingly

22 laughter

28 promised
24 courteously
28 beyond
28 surrounded

27 become

28 prosperous

29 wilderness

80 wells, springs

81 giants ; MS. eotantes
32 repair

LAYAMON, BRUT

223

per seal of ]>ine cunne 1 kinebearn 2 arisen,

And seal pin maere 8 kun wrelden 4 ])as 5 londes,

,geond 6 pa weorld beon ihaejed 7 ; and ]>u beo had and isund.8 ’

THE BUILDING OF LONDON

Lines 1985-2060 (Madden 1.84-7). Cf. Geoffrey 1. 17. 224 5-10 may be
compared with the ultimate original in Geoffrey of Monmouth, with Robert
of Gloucester’s version of the latter, with Wace's expansion, and with Robert
of Brunne’s rendering of Wace :

Geoffrey of Monmouth 1. 16: ' Amceno tamen situ locorum et piscosorum
fluminum copia, nemoribusque praselecta.’

Robert of Gloucester, Chronicle (ca. 1300) 4S4-7 :

po Brut and is men pus come verst to londe,

Hii wende aboute wide inou, be contreies vor to fonde ;

Gret plente hii founde of fiis, as hii wende bi be weie,

Of wodes and of rivers, as is in be contreie.

Wace, Brut 1245-1250:

Brutus esgarda les montaignes,

Vit les valees, vit les plaignes,

Les marines et les boscages,

Et les eves et les rivages ;

Vit les cans et les praaries ;

Vit les teres bien gaagnies.

Robert (Manning) of Brunne (1338) 1889-1894:

Brutus byhel[d] \>e mountaynes,

And avised hym o \>e playnes ;

Biheld )>e wodes, watres, and ffen,

Where esyest wony[n]g were for men ;

AIs watres ronnen wel, he byheld,

And mede wip be eryed feld.

Brutaine hefde Brutus, and Cornwaile Corineus.

Brutus nom alle his freond, )ie9 comen in his ferde10;

Neh him he heom laende,11 for heo him leofe weoren.

Corineus him cleopede to alle his icorene 12 ;

Alle he heom laende ]ier heom wes alre 18 leofest.

1 kin

2 royal progeny
8 illustrious

4 rule (w. gen.)
8 MS. bus

6 throughout

1 exalted

8 sound

9 that

1° army

11 placed
42 chosen ones
18 of all

224

CHRONICLES

Weox 1 pet folk and wel ipaih,2 3 for aelc hefde his iwillen 8 ;

Inne lut 4 5 geren firste 6 wes fat folc swa muchel
}?at per nas nan ende of folke swipe hende.

Brutus hine bipohte,8 and pis folc biheold ;

5 Biheold he pa muntes, feire and muchele ;

Biheold he pa medewan pat weoren swiSe maere ;

Biheold he pa wateres and pa wilde deor ;

Biheold he pa fisches ; biheold he pa fugeles ;

Biheold he pa leswa 7 and pene leofliche 8 wode ;
io Biheold he pene wode hu he bleou 9 ; biheold he pat corn hu hit greu ;
A1 he iseih on leoden pat him leof was on heorten.
pa bipohte he on Troygen,10 per his cun teone 11 poleden,12
And he liSde 13 geond pis lond, and scaewede 14 pa 15 leoden.

He funde wunsum ane stude 16 uppen ane watere ;
i S )?aer he gon araeren 17 riche ane burhe,18

Mid bouren and mid hallen, mid haege stanwalle[n],
pa pe burh wes imaked, pa wes he swiSe maere.19
pa burh wes swiSe wel idon, and he hire sette name on ;

He gef hire20 tirfulne21 name — Troye pe Newe,

20 To munien22 his ikunde28 whone24 he icomen weore.

SeohSen25 pa leodene longe perafter

Leiden adun pene 26 noma, and Trinovant heo 27 nemneden.

Binnen 28 feola 29 wintre hit iwer8 80 seo88en 31
pat araes of Brutus kunne — pat wes an heh king —

25 Lud wes ihaten.82 )?as burh he luvede swi<5e ;

]2e king i pere burh wonede swifte feola wintre.

He lette heo Lude clepian gond his leodfolke,

Hehte 88 heo nemnen Kaerlud, aefter pone kinge.

1 grew

2 throve

3 will (what he desired)

4 a few

5 time

6 bethought

" pastures

8 lovely

9 blew

10 Troy

11 evil

12 suffered

13 journeyed ; MS. lidtSe
H viewed

15 MS. )>ea

16 spot
11 erect

18 city

19 glorious ; MS. mare

20 MS. hire to hire

21 glorious

22 commemorate

23 lineage
21 from which

25 subsequently ; MS. so'Stien

26 that

27 it

28 within

29 many

30 befell

31 MS. seod'Sen

32 named

33 commanded

LAYAMON, BRUT

225

SeoSSen 1 com oper tir 2 and neowe tidinde,
pat men heo clepeden Lundin over al pas leode.

SeoiSSen comen Englisce men, and cleopeden heo Lundene ;
SetviSen 3 comen pa Lrensca — ]>a mid fehte 4 heo biwonnen 8 — -
Mid heora leodSeawe,6 and Lundres heo hehten.7

THE DIVISION OF LEAR’S KINGDOM

Lines 2902-3110 (Madden 1. 123-32). Cf. Geoffrey 2. 11

Bladud hafde enne sune — Leir wes ihaten ;

Efter his fader 8 daie he heold pis drihliche9 lond
Somed 10 an 11 his live 12 sixti winter.

He makede ane riche burh purh radfulle 18 his crafte,14
And he heo lette nemnen efter himseolvan ;

Kaer Leir hehte pe burh — leof heo wes pan kinge —
pa we an ure leodquide 15 Leirchestre 16 clepiaS.

^eare,17 a pan olde 18 dawen,19 heo wes swiSe aSel 20 burh ;
And seoSSen per seh 21 toward switie muchel seorwe,
pat heo wes al forfaren 22 purh pere leodene vsel.28
Sixti winter hefde Leir pis lond al to welden.
pe king hefde preo dohtren bi his drihliche quen ;

Nefde he nenne sune — perfore he warS sari —

His manscipe 24 to halden, buten 23 pa preo dohtren.
pa aeldeste dohter haihte Gornoille, pa otier Ragau, pa pridde
Cordoille —

Heo wes pa jungeste suster, a 26 wliten 27 alre vairest ;

Heo wes hire fader al swa leof swa his ajene lif.
pa aeldede 28 pe king, and wakede 29 an a<5elan 80 ;

1 MS. seod'Sen

n in

21 came

2 glory

12 lifetime

22 destroyed

3 MS. sed"5en

13 prudent

23 slaughter

4 battle

14 skill

24 dignity, lordship

5 won

15 language

26 only

6 national customs

13 Leicester

26 in

• called (it)

1" formerly

27 beauty

8 father’s

is MS. holde

28 grew old

9 noble

19 days

29 became weak

1° together

20 noble

80 power

226

CHRONICLES

And he hine bipohte wet he don mahte
Of 1 his kineriche 2 aefter his deie.

He seide to himsulven pat pat uvel 8 wes :

' Ic wile mine riche todon 4 alien 6 minen dohtren,

5 And jeven hem mine kinepeode,6 and twemen 7 mine[n] bearnen,8
Ac aerst Ic wille fondien9 whulche 10 beo mi beste freond,

And heo seal habbe pat beste del of mine drihlichen lon[d].’

]?us pe king pohte, and perasfter he worhte.

He clepede Gornoille, his 11 godfulle 12 dohter,
io Ut of hire bure to hire fader deore ;

And pus 13 spac pe aide king, per he on aeftelen 14 seat :

' Sei me, Gornoille, softere 15 worden :

Swift e dure 16 peo eart me ; hu leof sem Ich pe ?

Hu mochel worp 17 levest 18 pu me to walden kineriche ? ’

1 5 Gornoille was swifte waer 19 — swa beoft wifmen wel ihwaer 20 —
And seide ane lesinge heore 21 faedere pon king :

' Leofe faeder dure, swa bide 22 Ich Godes are 23 —

Swa helpe me Apollin, for min ilaefe 24 is al on him —

]?at levere 25 peo 26 asrt me asne 27 pane pis world al clane 28 ;

20 And jet 29 Ic pe wile speken wit 30 : peou asrt leovere pene mi lif ;
And pis Ich suege 81 pe to softe 82 ; pu miht83 me wel ileve.34 ’

Leir pe king ilefde his dohter 85 laeisinge,

And pas aensware jef — pat wass pe olde king :

' Ich pe, Gornoille, suge,86 leove dohter dure,

25 God 37 seal beon pi meda38 for pira gretinge.

Ic earn, for mire aeldde,89 sw[i]pe unbalded,40

1 with

15 with true

29 yet more

2 kingdom

16 dear

30 with

3 evil

17 MS. worg

31 say

4 divide

18 (?) ; MS. leste

32 MS. seofte

5 MS. & alien

19 wary, cunning

38 mayst ; MS. mith

6 kingdom

20 everywhere

34 believe

7 apportion

21 to her

35 daughter’s ; MS. doster

8 children

22 hope for

36 say ; MS. seuge

9 test

23 mercy

37 good

10 MS. whulchere

24 belief

38 reward

11 MS. hes

25 dearer

39 old age

12 goodly ; MS. gufS-

26 thou

40 enfeebled

13 MS. heus

27 alone

14 state

28 entire

LAYAMON, BRUT

227

And fou me lovest 1 sw[i]]>e mare fan is on live.

Ich wille mi drihliche 2 lond a freo 3 al todalen 4 ;
pin is fat beste deal ; fu aert mi dohter deore,

And scalt habben to laverd min alre beste fein 5
peo Ich mai vinden in mine kinnelonde.6 ’

Hifter spac fe olde kinge wit his [of er] 7 dohter :

' Leove dohter Regau, waet seist tu 8 me to raeide 9 ?

Seie fu bifore mire dujden10 heo 11 dure Ich am fe an herten.’
pa ansvvaerde [Regau] mid raetfulle12 worden:

' Al fat is on live nis nig 13 swa dure

Swa me is fin an lime,14 forfte10 min ahjene16 lif.’

Ah heo ne seide nafing soft,17 no more fenne hire suste[r] ;

Alle hire lesinge hire vader ilefede.

pa answarede f e king — his 18 do jter him icwemde 19 :

' pea fridde del of mine londe Ich bitake 20 fe an honde ;
pu scalt nime21 loverd 22 fer fe is alre leowost.’
pa jet nolde 23 fe leodking 24 his sotscipe 25 bilaeven 26 ;

He hehte 27 cumen him biforen his dohter Gordoille.

Heo was alre jungest, of softe jaerwitelest,28
And fe king heo lovede more f anne ba tueie 29 fe oftre.
Cordoille iherde fa lasinge f e hire sustren seiden fon kinge ;
Nom 30 hire leaffulne 31 huie 82 fat heo lijen 33 nolden —

Hire fader heo wolde suge soft,34 were him lef,85 were him laft.36
peo queft f e aide king — unrsed 87 him fulede 88 :

' Iheren Ich wile of fe, Cordoille —

Swa fe helpe Appolin — hu deore fe beo lif min.’
pa answarede Cordoille, lude 89 and no wiht stille,

1 MS. levoste

2 MS. dirh-

3 in three ; MS. proe

4 divide

5 thane

6 realm

7 second

8 thou

9 as opinion

10 men ; MS. dugden

11 how

is prudent

13 nigh

n limb

15 before (?)

16 own

47 true ; MS. setS

18 MS. hiis

19 pleased

20 deliver

21 take

22 husband

23 would not

24 king

23 folly : MS. soth-
26 abandon

27 commanded

28 most gifted

29 both (both two)

30 made up

81 faithful

82 mind (OE. hyge)

83 lie

34 MS. Scott'

85 agreeable

86 disagreeable

8" unwisdom; MS. unratS
38 followed
89 loudly

228

CHRONICLES

Mid gomene 1 and mid lehtre to hire fader leve :

' peo art me leof al so 2 mi faeder, and Ich fe al so ]>i dohter ;

Ich habbe to )>e soffaste 8 love, for4 we buoft swife isibbe8;

And — swa Ich ibide 6 are — Ich wille fe suge mare :

5 Al swa muchel fu bist worf 7 swa }>u weldende 8 aert,

And al swa muchel swa }>u havest men fe wllej> 9 luvien,

For sone he 10 bi<5 ilaged,11 fe mon fe lutel ah.12 ’
pus seide fe maeiden Cordoille, and seoftSen set sw[i]fe stille.
pa iwarfie 13 fe king wraeS 14 for he nes noht 15 iquemed,16
io And wende on [h]is fonke 17 fat18 hit weren for unfteawe 19
pat he hire weore swa unwour<5 fat heo hine nolde iwurtii 20
Swa hire twa sustren, fe ba somed 21 laesinge speken.
pe king Leir iwer'Se 22 swa blac swlch 23 hit a blac clofi weoren,
IwaerS his hude 24 and his heowe,25 for he was sufe 26 ihaermed 27 ;
15 Mid faere wraecSSe he wes isweved,28 fat29 he feol iswowen.80
Late 81 f eo he up fusde 82 — pat maeiden wes afeared ;
pa hit alles up brae — hit wes uvel 83 fat he spac :

' Haer[c]ne,34 Cordoille, Ich fe telle wile 36 mine wille :

Of mine dohtren fu were me durest ; nu fu eaert me alre86 lae<5es[t].87
20 Ne scalt fu naever halden dale of mine lande,

Ah mine[n] dohtren Ich wile delen mine riche,88
And fu scalt worsen wraechen,39 and wonien in wansiSe,40
For navere Ich ne wende 41 fat fu me woldes fus scanden 42 ;
parfore fu scalt beon deed,43 Ich wene ; fliy 44 ut of min eashsene.45
25 pine sustren sculen habben mi kinelond; and f is me is iqueme.46

1 mirth (game)

2 as

<> true ; MS. soh-

4 because

5 related

6 expect

7 worth

8 ruling; MS. velden

9 MS. wllet
w MS. heo

11 brought low ; MS. ilage“5
42 possesses
18 became

14 wroth ; MS. waer'S

15 MS. peo noht

16 gratified

17 thought

18 MS. paht

19 undutifulness

20 honor

21 both together

22 grew
28 as if

24 skin

25 hue

26 much

27 grieved

28 stupefied

29 so that

80 in a swoon
84 after a time
82 started

38 evil
84 hearken
35 wiH

86 of all ; M S. arle

87 most hateful
38 realm

89 exile ; MS. warchen

40 misery

41 supposed

42 shame
48 dead

44 fly

45 sight

46 agreeable

LAYAMON, BRUT

229

pt Due of Cornwaile seal habbe Gornoille,

And }>e Scottene king Regau pat scone,1

And Ic hem geve al )>a winne2 ]>e Ich aem waldinge8 over.’

And al ]>e aide king dude 4 swa he hafvede 6 idemed.8

Of [t] wes ]>en 1 maeidene wa,8 and naevre wors ]>enne pa 9 ;

\Va 10 hire wes on mode 11 for hire fader wrae]>e.12

Heo wende 13 into hire boure, ]>ar heo ofte saette sare,14

For heo nolde ligen hire 15 fader 16 leove.

C/ESAR'S BATTLE WITH THE BRITONS

Lines 7472-7662 (Madden 1. 319-27). Cf. Geoffrey 4.3, 4

He 17 cleopede on his cnihtes : ' ^arewieS 18 eow to fihte.

For nu is mid ferde 19 icumen Cassibellaunus.’

Heo liSede 20 togadere mid heore speren longe,

Mid axen, mid sweorden, mid scaerpe speres orde 21 ;

Hardliche 22 heo heowen 23 ; haelmes per gollen 24 ;

Feon[d]liche 25 heo feohten ; hafdes 26 per feollen.

And Cesar pe keisere wes unimete 27 kene 28 :

His longe sweord he adroh,29 and moni mon permide 30 asloh 31 ;
He swonc 32 i pon fehte pat al he lavede 33 a sweote.34
He sloh )>a 36 him neh 86 weoren — alle buten 87 iferen 88 ;

He dude J>er muchelne 39 wundre ; he sloh per an hundred
Of ahtere 40 monnen, pe feond 41 mid his maeche.42
pat iseh Androgeus, and cleopede his fader Nennius,

1 fair

15 to her

29 drew

2 possessions (?)

16 MS. fadder

80 therewith

3 ruler

u Caesar

81 MS. aslo«

4 did

18 prepare

32 labored

5 had

19 army

88 dripped

6 decided

20 came

34 sweat

7 to the

21 point

85 those that

8 woe

22 stoutly

86 near

9 then

23 hewed

87 without

10 MS. )>a

24 resounded

88 companions

n heart

25 fiercely

39 a great

12 wrath ; MS. waerpe

26 heads

40 valiant

13 MS. vende

27 beyond measure

41 enemy

I4 sorrowful

28 brave

42 sword

230

CHRONICLES

And beiene 1 pa eorles bugen 2 heom togaderes,

Mid switie muchele folke ; togsederen stoden faste.

Isegen 8 heo Julius Cesar faehten al swa a wilde bar,

And heo him to fusden 4 mid ladliche 5 fehte,

5 And monie of heore feonden heo fselden to pon grunde.
pa iseh Nennius waer 6 faeht Cesar Julius,

And he him to rasde 7 mid rsehaem 8 his sweorde ;

Uppen )>ene helm he hine smat J>at pet sweord in bat.

SelkutS 9 hit puhte 10 moni cnihte

io pat he durste cumen him nseh, for |>an pa pe keisere11 wes swa hseh.12
Julius Cesar ne queS nan word, ah he brseid 18 ut his sweord,

And Nennium he smat ]>a uppen pene helm swa
pat ]>e helm tohaelde,14 and pat haefde 15 bledde ;

Ah he ne blakede 16 no, for he wes cniht wel idon.17
15 And Julius noht ne na hrseS,18 ah his brond 19 he up ahaef,20
And Nennius href up his sceld, scilde21 hine sulve.

Julius adun smat,22 and ]>at sweord a 28 Sene scelde bat 24 ;

Julius hit wraste,25 and pat sweord stike[de] 26 feste ;

Julius ]>at sweord heold, and Nennius pene sceld,

20 And pus heo hit longe bitugen,27 ne mihte he pat sweord ut dragen.28
pat isash Androgeus hu verden 29 Cesar and Nennius,

And he30 hem to fusde, Nennius31 to fulste.32

pa isash Cesar trSend 83 pat him wes saer ;

He forlette 84 pene brand — pa nefde he noht on his hond — •

25 And he pa feondliche35 turnde to flaeme.80

Nennius wende i pane felde, and he turnde his scelde,

Droh ut pene brande. pa wes pe eorl swipe bald :

1 both

14 gave way

25 wrenched

2 turned

15 head

26 stuck

8 saw

16 paled

27 tugged at

4 hurried

17 trained

28 draw

6 hostile

18 paused for breath (?) ; but the text is

29 fared

6 where

probably corrupt. (The later MS.

89 MS. heo

1 rushed

has : mid pe seolve brep.)

81 MS. monie

8 fierce

I9 sword

82 assistance

9 strange

29 lifted

88 occurrence

10 MS. pufite

21 shielded

84 let go

11 emperor

22 smote

85 as a foeman

12 awe-inspiring

23 jn

86 flight

18 drew

24 bit

LAYAMON, BRUT

231

Monie Romanisce men mid )>on svveorde he leide adun ;

He wes moni 1 monnes bone,2 and moni anne 8 he dude scome.
A1 fat he mid pan sweorde smat, |>erriht 4 hit 5 iwat 0 ;

A1 fat he J>ermid 7 atran,3 weore hit flaes,9 weore hit ban,

}">urh )>eos sweordcs wunde heo fullen to }>on grunde.

Alle daei wes )>at fiht,10 a 11 )>et com ]>e )>estere 12 niht.

Julius ]>e kaisere mid alle ]>an Romanisce here
Dalden 13 from |>an fihte al bi )>ustere nihte ;

To haerberje 14 heo wenden uppen )>are sae stronde ;

Heo bilefden la biaeften 10 twenti hundred cnihten
J>eo leien under scelden, islaejen jeond ]>on felden.

Cesar iwende to his bedde ; his men weoren ofdredde.17
Hine18 biwakeden 19 in ]>ere nihte ]>ritti hundred cnihten,

Mid helmen and mid burnen,20 and mid stelene sweorden.

Julius Cesar he wes jep21 and swu'Se iwaer22;

He isaeh his muchele lure,23 and of mare 24 he haefde kare ;

He aras to ]>an midnihte, and bannede 26 his cnihtes,

And seide heom ]>at heo wolden faren and fleon of )>issen londe,
Faren into Flandre, and beo[n] }<er wuniende
A 26 J>at he isege 27 his time ]>at heo 28 mihten aeft cumen liSen.29
Heo ferden forj> 30 rihte to scipe al bi nihte ;

Heo haefden swiSe fair weder, and wenden into Flandre.

A marten, ]>a hit daei wes, ]>e king mid his dujeSe 81
^arekede 32 his ferde, and wende to J>an fihte.
po 33 was Romanisce folc ivaren 84 from here londe,33
]?at 36 ne funden heo naver enne 37 of Cesares monnen.

1 MS. moniennes

2 slayer

3 a one

4 straightway

5 it (= they)

6 died

7 therewith

8 reached, touched

9 flesh

10 MS. fehti

n till

12 dark

13 departed

shelter, harborage
left

behind
dismayed
him ; MS. inne
wakened
cuirasses
astute
wary
loss

more, further ; MS. masre

summoned

until

27 should see ; MS. isejen
2« MS. he
29 sailing

80 MS. forh

81 knighthood
32 made ready
88 MS. feo

84 passed

85 MS. sonde

86 so that

87 one

CHRONICLES

23:

pa weoren Bruttes blihe 1 an heore mode ;

Muchel wes pa blisse }>at heo makeden mid iwisse,2
And 8 sone peraefter saeri heo wurden.4
And Cassibellaune pe king iwarh saeri purh alle ping,6
For Nennius his broher ne mihte finden bote 6
Of his haefved-wunde pe Julius smat mid honde,

Ne purh nenne laechecraefte 7 ne mihte he lif habben.

Nes per nan oher raed 8 buten Nennius iwarft daed,9
And Nennius was ilaeid 10 at pon norSgaete i Lundene.
pe king naem enne marmestan, and lette hine mid golde bigon,11
Mid golde and mid jimme 12 ; his broker he leide perinne ;

Mid richedome 18 pa Bruttes Nennium biburden.14

Nu pu miht15 iheren selkuh16 word : pe king nom )>at ilke 17 sweorde

pat Nennius his broher biwan of Julius Cesare,

And laeide hit bi his broher, pah 18 hit his bone 19 weore.

Waes pe stelene brand swiSe brad and swihe long ;
peron weoren igraven feole cunne 20 bocstaven 21 ;

A 22 here hilte wes igraven

pat pa sweord wes icleoped 23 inne Rome Crocia Mors 24 —

Swa pat sweord haehte, for hit havede muchele mahte.25
permide pe keisere prastede 26 aelches londes here 27 ;

For nas naevere pe ilke bem 28 pe avere iboren weore,
pat of pen ilke sweorde enne 29 swipe 80 hefde,
pat 81 he of his likame 82 lette aenne drope blod,
pat he nes sone daed, neore he noht 33 swa dohti.

Julius mid his ferde laei inne Flandre ;
pa word com to France hou 34 he ivaren haefde,

1 joyful

18 splendor

25 might

2 with certainty, in truth

14 buried

26 menaced

8 but

10 rnayst

27 army

4 MS. wurSen

16 strange

28 man

5 in every way

I5, very

29 a

8 cure

is though ; MS. j>at

80 blow

r medical skill

19 slayer

81 so that

8 remedy

20 kinds

82 body

9 MS. daefS

21 letters (cf. Ger. Buchstaben )

88 never

10 laid

22 on ; MS. te

84 MS. heou

n adorn

28 called

12 precious stone(s)

24 Saffron Death

LAYAMON, BRUT

233

And hu he waes mid his faerde iflaemde 1 of pissen earde.2
}?a3 weoren pa Frensce men ferfore swi|>e vaeine,4
For toward Julius heo haefden grome,5 and forju weoren faein
of his scome.6

CYMBELINE AND THE BIRTH OF CHRIST
Lines 9064-9185 (Madden 1.386-91). Cf. Geoffrey 4. 11

On Kinbelines daeie, )ie king wes inne Bruttene,

Com a j'issen middelaerde 7 anes maidenes Sune ;

Iboren wes in BeSleem of bezste 8 alre burden.9
He is ihaten Jesu Crist j’urh J>ene Halie Cost,

Aire worulde Wunne,10 Walden[d] 11 englenne.12
Faeder he is on hevenen, Frovre18 moncunnes 14 ;

Sune he is on eorfien of sele 16 J>on masidene ;

And J>ene Halie Cost haldeS 16 mid himseolven.

]?ene Gast he wel daleS 17 to ]>an ]ie him beoS leove,

A1 swa he dude Peture, ]>e wes a wraeche 18 fiscaere,

J">e makede hine an mancunne hehst 19 of alre manne.

Kinbelin, Bruttene king, wes god mon ]?urh alle )>ing ;

And he luvede 20 here twa and twenti jere.

An his daeie her luvede a mon inne Jnsse leoden —

Feorliche21 Jnng fuleden 22 him — he wes ihaten Teilesin23;
Heo heolden 24 hine for witie 25 f>urh his witfulne26 craefte,

And al heo hit ilaefden 27 pat Teilesin heom seide.

He seide heom seolkub 28 inoh, and al heo hit funden so5 ;

He seide heom aelche jtere waet heom to cumen weore.

J?e king him sende aefter wise twalf cnihtes,

Bad 29 hine comen him 80 to — pat he nan ofter 31 scolde 32 don ;

1 put to flight

12 of angels

23 Taliesin

2 country

13 comfort

24 held ; MS. heolten

3 MS. pit

14 of mankind

23 prophet

4 fain, glad

16 blissful

26 wise

5 grudge

16 he holdeth

27 believed

6 shame

17 imparts

28 marvel

7 world

48 forlorn

29 bade; MS. baft

8 the best

I9 highest

80 Cymbeline

9 women

20 lived

81 other thing

10 joy

21 wondrous

32 should ; MS. seolden

11 lord

22 followed

234

CHRONICLES

And heo hine bro[h]ten sone biforen pen folkekinge.

Anan swa 1 pe king hine imette, fseire he hine igrette :

' Swa me helpen min hefde and mi chin, wulcume aert pu, Teilesin,
And leovere me is pine isunden 2 penne a pusend punden.’

5 pa andswerede Teilesin, and pus seide to Kinbelin :

' Swa ich mote gode ipeon,3 al 4 pu hit9 sselt6 wel biteon.7 ’
pa wes glad Kinbelin, and pus seide to Teilesin :

' Her beoS to pisse londe icumen seolcuSe leodronen,8
And fromward0 peon 10 londe of Jerusalem; iwurden 11 heo beo5 in
BeSleem.

io per is iboren an luttel child inne pere leoden.12

Muchele is and stor 13 pe eije 14 ; tacnen 15 per beo(S on sterren,

An monen, and on seonnen 16 ; eie 17 is on moncunnen.
pis is widen 18 icuS 19 and pa writen 20 me beoS to icume,

And Ic wolde iwiten set 21 pe ■ — pu aert mi wine 22 deore —

15 To whan23 pis tocne wule ten,24 to wulche pinge temen,25
For herfore26 is alches londes folc laedliche 27 afered.’

pa answerede Teilesin, and pus seide to Kinbelin :

' Hit wes jare 28 iquetien 29 — pa quides 80 beoS nu so<5e —
pat scolden beon a child iboren, of alle folke icoren,81
20 And pat scolde beon ihaten Haelend,32 and helpen his freondes,
Alesen 38 his leofve wines of lae<5e 84 heore bendes,89
Of 86 helle bringen Adam, Noe, and Abraham,

Sadoc and Samiel, and Symeon pene aide,

Josep an[d] Benjamin, and alle his broSeres mid him,

25 Johel and Eliseon, Asor and Naason,

Ysaac and his broker, and moni enne37 oSer,

1 the moment that

2 health, welfare
8 well thrive

4 everything

5 refers to al

6 shalt

' accomplish

8 secret tidings

9 from ; MS. -War'S

10 the

11 come to pass ; M S. iwurSen

12 country

18 mighty, overwhelming

14 alarm, misgiving

15 signs
is sun
1" fear

18 widely

19 known

20 writings

24 know from
22 friend
28 which

24 tend

25 lead

26 on account of this

27 sore

28 long ago

29 announced
80 assertions
84 choicest

82 Saviour, Jesus
88 deliver

84 hateful

85 bonds

86 from

87 a one

THE OLD ENGLISH CHRONICLE

235

Moni hundred J>usend ]ie i]>ud 1 beo5 to hellen ;

And for swulchere 2 neode he is icumen to ]>ere ]>eoden.8 ’
peos word seide Teilesin, and alle heo weoren so'Se.

]Ta )>an 4 kinge weoren 5 icudde ]>as quides ]>a weoren soSe,
pa weoren |>a trSinde cube jeond his kineriche ;

Bruttes herof jemden,6 and noht hit ne forjeten.

Kinbelin wes god king, and griSful 7 ]>urh alle ]>ing,8
And f>a Romleoden 9 swibe bine luveden ;

And jif |>e king wolde 10 wib 11 heom wiberhalden,12
He mihte 13 aethalden 14 heore feoh 15 ]>e Julius her 16 faette 17 ;

Ah aevere mare 18 bi 19 his live he hit heom leofliche 20 jeaf.

Seobbe 21 him comen ]>ae tibinde of Crist, Codes childe,

Ne leovede 22 pe king mare buten ten jere :

Seobben pe king bilasfden 23 his lif ; inne Eowverwike 24 he jet lib.26

THE OLD ENGLISH CHRONICLE: THE REIGN
OF STEPHEN (A. D. 1137)

The Old English Chronicle is of priceless value for the early history of
England. Toward the end the language passes over into an early form of
Middle English. Modern historians have often drawn upon this passage in
characterizing the reign of Stephen.

Our text is from Two Saxon Chronicles Parallel , ed. Plummer and Earle,
pp. 263-5, whh contractions expanded.

pa-]>e 26 King Stephne to Englalande com, ]>a macod he his gader-
ing27 aet Oxeneford, and J>ar he nam )>e biscop Roger of Sereberi,28
and Alexander, Biscop of Lineol, and te Canceler Roger, hise neves,29
and dide aelle in prisun til hi iafen 30 up here castles, pa the suikes 31

1 consigned

12 rebel ; MS. -heolden

28 departed

2 such

18 might have ; MS. mitSte

24 Y ork

8 peoples

I4 withhold

25 lies

4 to the

1® tribute

26 when

5 MS. wes

1® from here

27 assembly

6 took note

il fetched

28 Salisbury

" peaceable

18 MS. maere

29 nephews

8 in all ways

I9 during

80 gave

9 Romans

20 submissively, loyally

81 traitors

1° had wished

21 after

U against

22 lived

236

CHRONICLES

undergaeton 1 (Sat he milde man was and softe and god, and na jus-
tise ne dide, pa diden hi alle wunder. Hi hadden him manred 2 3 maked
and athes suoren, ac 8 hi nan treuthe ne heolden ; alle hi 4 * waeron for-
sworen and here treothes forloren, for asvric6 rice man his castles
S makede and agaenes him heolden, and fylden pe land ful of castles.
Hi swuncten 6 suyfie pe wrecce men of pe land mid castelweorces.7
pa pe castles waren maked, pa fylden hi [hi] mid deovles and yvele men.
pa namen hi pa men pe hi wenden fiat ani god 8 hefden, bathe be
nihtes and be daeies, carlmen 9 and wimmen, and diden heom in prisun,
io efter 10 gold and sylver, and pined 11 heom untellendlice 12 pining. For
ne waeren nasvre nan martyrs swa pined alse hi waeron ; me 18 henged
up bi the fet and smoked heom mid ful 14 smoke ; me henged bi the
pumbes other bi the hefed,15 and hengen bryniges 16 on her fet ; me
dide cnotted strenges abuton here haeved, and wrythen 17 to fiat it
15 gaede 18 to pe haernes.19 Hi dyden heom in quarterne,20 par nadres 21
and snakes and pades 22 waeron inne, and drapen 23 heom swa. Sume
hi diden in crucethus,24 fiat is in an caeste25 pat was scort and nareu
and undep, and dide scaerpe stanes perinne, and prengde 26 pe man
pasrinne fiat him braecon alle pe limes. In mani of pe castles waeron
20 lof 27 and grin,28 fiat waeron rachenteges 29 fiat twa oper thre men had¬
den onoh to baeron onne 30 ; pat was sua maced, fiat is faestned to an
beom,31 and diden an scaerp iren abuton pe 32 mannes throte and his
hals,33 fiat he ne myhte nowiderwardes,34 ne sitten ne lien ne slepen,
oc baeron al fiat iren. Mani pusen[d] hi drapen mid hungaer.

25 I ne can ne I ne mai tellen alle pe wunder, ne alle pe pines, fiat
hi diden wrecce men on pis land ; and fiat lastede pa xix wintre
wile Stephne was king, and aevre it was werse and werse. Hi laeiden

1 understood, perceived

2 homage

3 but

4 MS. he

6 every

6 oppressed

7 the making of castles

8 property

9 men

1° in pursuit of

n tortured

12 unspeakable

13 they

44 foul

45 head

16 coats of mail

17 twisted

18 till it went

19 brain

20 piison

21 adders

22 toads

23 killed

24 torture-box

23 chest

26 pressed, jammed

27 device (?)

28 contrivance

29 chains, fetters

30 one

31 beam, rafter

32 MS. J>a

33 neck

34 (go) in no direction

BARBOUR, THE BRUCE

237

gaeldes 1 on the tunes sevre um wile,2 * and clepeden it tenserie.8 pa
]>e wrecce men ne hadden nan more to gyven, pa raeveden 4 5 hi and
brendon8 alle the tunes, fiat,6 wel7 pu myhtes faren all a daeis fare,8
sculdest thu nevre finden man in tune sittende ne land tiled.9 pa
was corn daere,10 and flesc 11 and caese 12 and butere, for nan ne 5
waes o pe land. Wrecce men sturven 13 of hungaer ; sume ieden 14 on
aelmes pe waren sum wile 18 rice men ; sume flugen 16 ut of lande.
Wes naevre gaet mare wreccehed 17 on land, ne naevre hethen men
werse ne diden pan hi diden ; for ower 18 sithon 19 ne forbaren 20 hi
nouther circe 21 ne cyrceiaerd,22 oc namen al ]>e god fiat parinne was, 10
and brenden sythen pe cyrce, and al tegaedere. Ne hi ne forbaren
biscopes land, ne abbotes, ne preostes, ac raeveden munekes and
clerekes, and aevric man other 23 pe ower 24 myhte. Gif twa men oper
iii a coman ridend to an tun, al pe tunscipe fiugaen for heom ; wenden
'Sat hi waeron raeveres.28 }">e biscopes and lered men heom cursede26 15
aevre, oc was heom naht parof, for hi weron al forcursaed and for-
suoren and forloren. Warsae 27 me tilede, pe erthe ne bar nan corn,
for pe land was al fordon mid suilce daedes, and hi saeden openlice
Sat Crist slep and his halechen.28 Suilc and mare panne we cunnen
saein, we poleden 29 xix wintre for ure sinnes. 20

BARBOUR, THE BRUCE

The Bruce was composed in 1375 by a northern contemporary of Chaucer,
John Barbour (1320 (?)— 1 395 ) , who was for thirty-eight years archdeacon of
Aberdeen. Of Barbour’s life comparatively little is known, but we learn that
he received permits from the king to study at Oxford and in France, and was
granted various pensions. Besides the Bruce , he wrote a poem called The Bmt,
and a genealogy of the Stuart family, both of which are lost.

1 tributes ; MS. gaeildes

2 from time to time

8 name given to a tax exacted
from vassals in return for
protection

4 plundered

5 burned

6 so that

7 though

8 journey

9 tilled

10 dear, expensive

11 MS. flee

12 cheese

13 died, perished

14 went, lived
16 at one time
16 fled

1" wretchedness

18 everywhere; MS. ouer

19 afterwards

20 abstained from

21 church

22 churchyard

28 each man his neighbor

24 anywhere; MS. ouer

25 robbers

26 excommunicated

27 wheresoever

28 saints

29 endured; MS. kolenden

238

CHRONICLES

The Bruce is called by its author a romance, though it has often been dealt
with and criticized as history. 'We are hardly to regard it in the light of an
exact history, but rather as a succession of episodes telling us various stories
about the great perils and adventures of the heroes, the chief of whom are
Robert Bruce, his brother Edward, Sir James Douglas, and Sir Thomas
Randolph, afterwards Earl of Murray’ (Skeat), the period covered being
1286-1332. The poem is divided into twenty books, and is written in the
dialect of southern Scotland. While certain parts of it are undeniably tedious,
it is of real interest for its national spirit, and has been influential upon so late
a fellow-countryman of Barbour’s as Sir Walter Scott. Barbour’s unique posi¬
tion is that ' of being the father both of vernacular Scottish poetry and Scottish
history’ {Diet. Nat. Biog.).

Our text is taken from that of Skeat, as edited for the Scottish Text Society
(Edinburgh, 1894), with the omission of square brackets, substitution of j for ss
(representing a single sound), and writing of h as «, etc. Skeat’s text is based
on the Edinburgh manuscript, written in 1489, collated with the Cambridge
MS. G. 23, and with several early editions. Our selections include lines 353-406
of Book 1, 352-452 of Book 10, and 18-49, 139-66, and 272-323 of Book 13.
It is to be noted that v and w are frequently interchanged.

SIR JAMES DOUGLAS

To Sanct Androws he come in hy,1
Quhar 2 the byschop full curtasly
Resavyt him, and gert 3 him wer
His knyvys,4 forouch 5 him to scher 6 ;
And cled him rycht honorabilly,

And gert ordayn quhar he suld ly.

A weile 7 gret quhile thar duellyt he ;
All men lufyt him for his bounte,

For he wes off full fayr effer,8
Wys, curtais, and deboner ;

Larg9 and luffand als wes he,

And our 10 all thing luffyt lawte.11
Leaute to luff 12 is gretumly 18 :
Throuch leaute liffis men rychtwisly ;

1 haste

2 where

3 made

6 carve at table
t very (well)

8 behavior

9 generous
1° over, above

11 loyalty

12 to be loved

13 greatly

4 knives, daggers

6 before

BARBOUR, THE BRUCE

239

With a wertu 1 of leaute
A man may jeit sufficyand be ;

And but 2 leavvte may nane haiff price,3
Quhethir he be wycht 4 or he be wys ;
For quhar it failjeys, na wertu
May be off5 price, na off valu,

To mak a man sa gud that he
May symply gud man callyt be.

He wes in all bis dedis lele 6;

For him dedeynjeit 7 nocht to dele
With trechery, na with falset.8
His hart on hey honour wes set ;

And hym contenyt 9 on sic 10 maner
That all him luffyt that war him ner.

Bot he wes nocht sa fayr that we
Suld spek gretly off his beaute :

In wysage wes he sumdeill gray,

And had blak har, as Ic hard say ;

Bot off lymmys he wes weill maid,

With banys 11 gret and schuldrys braid.
His body wes weyll maid and lenye,12
As thai that saw hym said to me.
Quhen he wes blyth, he wes lufly,

And meyk and sweyt in cumpany ;

Bot quha in battaill mycht him se,

All othir contenance had he.

And in spek 13 wlispyt 14 he sum deill,
Bot that sat 15 him rycht wondre weill.
Till16 gud Ector of Troy mycht he
In mony thingis liknyt be.

Ector had blak har as he had,

1 virtue

2 without

3 praise

4 vigorous
s of

6 leal, loyal

7 deigned

8 falsehood

9 he demeaned himself
10 such

14 bones
12 lean, thin

18 speech
44 lisped
48 became
46 to

240

CHRONICLES

And stark 1 lymmys, and rycht weill maid ;
And wlispyt alsua as did he,

And wes fullfillyt 2 of leawte,

And wes curtais, and wys, and wycht.3
Bot off manheid and mekill mycht,

Till Ector dar I nane comper
Off all that evir in warldys wer.

The quhethyr 4 in his tyme sa wrocht he,
That he suld gretly lovyt be.

THE WINNING OF ROXBURGH CASTLE

This tym that the gud erll Thomas
Assegit,6 as the lettir 6 sais,

Edinburgh, James of Douglas
Set all his vit for till purchas 7
How Roxburgh, throu subtilite
Or ony craft, mycht wonnyn be ;

Till he gert Sym of the Ledows — -
A crafty man and a curious —

Of hempyn rapis 8 ledderis ma,9
With treyn 10 steppis bundin swa,

That vald 11 brek apon na kyn wis.12
A cruk 18 thai maid, at thair deuis,14
Of irn,15 that wes styth 16 and square ;

That, fra 17 it ane kyrnaill 18 ware,

And the leddir tharfra stratly19
Strekit,20 it suld stand sekirly.21

This lord of Douglas than, alsoyn 22
As this devisit wes and done,

1 strong

2 filled full

3 brave

4 nevertheless

5 besieged

6 written account

7 devise, contrive

8 ropes

9 make
40 wooden

11 would

12 in no way

13 large hook

14 according to their plan
16 iron

16 strong

21 securely

22 as soon

47 from the time that, when
18 against a battlement
49 tightly
20 stretched

BARBOUR, THE BRUCE

Gaderit gud men in prevate 1 ;

Thre score I trow at 2 thai mycht be.

And on the fasteryn evyn 8 rycht,

In the begynnyng of the nycht,

Till the castell thai tuk the vay.

With blak froggis 4 all helit 5 thai
The armouris at thai on thame had.

Thai com ner by thar but abaid,6
And send haly thair hors 7 thame fra,

And on range 8 in ane rod 9 can 10 ga 11
On handis and feit, quhen thai war neir,
Richt as thai ky 12 and oxin weir,

That war unbondyn left therout.

It wes richt merk,13 forouten 14 dout ;

The quhethir15 ane, on the wall that lay,
Besyde him till his feir 16 can say :

' This man thinkis to mak gude chere ’ — -
And nemmyt 17 ane husband 18 tharby neir —
' That has left all his oxyne out.’

The tothir said, ' It is na dout ;

He sail mak merye this nycht, thouch thai 19
Be with 20 the Douglas led avay.’

Thai wende the Douglas and his men
Had beyn oxyne, for thai geid 21 then
On handis and feit, ay ane and ane.

The Dowglas rycht gud tent 22 has tane 28
Till all thar speke,24 bot alssoyn 26 thai
Held, carpand,20 inward on thar way.

The Douglas men tharof wes blith,

241

Tuesday

frocks

covered, concealed
without delay
sent all their horses away
in single file

secrecy

that

eve of the fast, Shrove

9 along a path (road)

10 did (gan)

11 g°

12 cows
18 dark

14 without

15 nevertheless

18 companion (OE .gefera)
17 named

is husbandman, farmer

19 (the cattle)

20 by

21 went (OE. eode)

22 attention

28 paid (taken)

24 speech

25 very soon

26 talking

242

CHRONICLES

And till the wall thai sped thame swith 1 ;
And soyn has up thair ledderis set,

That maid a clap,2 quhen the cleket 3
Wes festnyt fast in the kyrnell.

That herd ane of the vachis 4 wele,

And buskit 5 thiddirward but baid 6 ;

Bot Ledous, that the leddyr maid,

Sped 7 hym to clym first to the wall ;

Bot, or he wes up gottin all,

He at 8 that vard 9 had in keping,

Met him rycht at the upcummyng ;

And, for 10 he thoucht to dyng 11 hym doune,
He maid na noys, na cry, na sowne,

Bot schot 12 till him deliverly.18
And he that wes in juperdy
Till de,14 a Ians 15 till him he maid,

And gat him be the nek but baid,

And stekit 16 him upward vith ane knyff,
Quhill in his hand he left the liff.17
And quhen he ded sa saw him ly,

Upon the wall he went in hy,

And doune the body kest thame till,

And said : ' All gangis 18 as we will ;

Speid19 jow upward deliverly.’

And thai did swa in full gret hy.

Bot, or thai wan 20 up, thar com ane,

And saw Ledows stand him allane,

And knew he wes nocht of thar men.

In hy he ruschit till hym then,

And hym assalgeit sturdely ;

Bot he hym slew deliverly ;

1 quickly

2 noise

8 clicket, holdfast

4 watches, guards

5 hastened

0 without delay
7 hastened

10 because

11 throw

12 shot, dashed

8 that

9 watch

15 leap, dash

16 stabbed
47 life

13 nimbly

14 to die

18 goes

19 hasten

20 succeeded in getting

BARBOUR, THE BRUCE 243

For he wes armyt and wes vycht.

The tothir nakyt 1 wes, I hicht,2
And had nocht for till stynt no strak.3
Sic melle 4 5 tharup 6 can he mak,

Quhill Douglas and his men^he 3 all 5

War wonnyn up apon the wall.

Than in the tour thai vent in hy.

The folk that tym wes halely 7
Into 8 the hall at thair dansyng,

Synging, and othir wayis playing, 10

As apon fastryn evyn is

The custom, to mak joy and blis,

To folk that ar into savite 9
Swa trowit thai that tym to be.

Bot, or thai wist, rycht in the hall 15

Douglas and his men cummyn var all,

And cryit on hicht 10 : ' Douglas ! Douglas ! ’

And thai, that ma 11 war than he was,

Herd 'Dowglas ! ’ cryit rycht hydwisly,12

Thai war abasit 13 for the cry, 20

And schupe 14 rieht na defens to ma.15

And thai but16 pite can thame sla,

Till thai had gottyn the ovir17 hand.

1 unarmed

2 assure you

3 to oppose a blow (stop a stroke)

4 such combat

5 up there

6 host

7 all of them

8 in

9 in safety

10 aloud

11 more

12 horribly

13 dismayed

14 attempted

15 make

16 without

17 upper

244

CHRONICLES

THE BATTLE OF BANNOCKBURN (A.D. 1314)

The closing incident of this selection may be compared with Scott’s adapta¬
tion of it in The Lord of the Isles 6.31-2. The story of the campaign, with a
survey of the related events and conditions, has been told by W. M. Mackenzie,
The Battle of Bannockburn : A Study in Medieval Warfare (Glasgow, 1913).

The battale thair so felloune 1 was,

And sua richt gret spilling of blud,

That on the erd the flus 2 * it stud.

The Scottis men so weill thame bar,

And sua gret slauchtir maid thai thar,

And fra so feill 8 the livis revit,4 * 6
That all the feild wes bludy levit.°

That tym thir thre battalis 0 wer
All syde be syde fechtand 7 weill neir,

Thar mycht man her 8 richt mony dynt,

And vapnys 9 apon armour stynt,10
And se tummyll 11 knychtis and stedis,

With mony rich and ryoll 12 wedis 13
Defoulit roydly 14 under feit.

Sum held on loft,15 sum tynt 16 the suet.17
A long quhill thus fechtand thai wer,

That men no noyis na cry mycht her ;

Men herd nocht ellis bot granys 18 and dyntis,
That slew 19 fire, as men dois 20 on flyntis ;
Sa21 faucht thai ilkane egirly
That thai maid nouthir noyis no cry,

Bot dang 22 on othir at thar mycht,

With wapnys that war burnyst brycht.

The arrowis als so thik thai flaw

1 cruel

2 pool

8 many

4 took away

8 left

6 these three battalions

" being fought

8 hear

9 weapons

10 clash, smite

11 tumble, fall

12 royal

48 garments
14 rudely
is aloft
1® lost

1' life-blood (sweat)

18 groans

19 struck
29 do

21 so

22 struck

BARBOUR, THE BRUCE

That thai mycht say weill, at 1 thaim saw,
That thai ane hydwis schour 2 can ma ;

For quhar thai fell, I wndirta,8
Thai left eftir thame taknyng,4
That sail neid, as I trow, lechyng.5
The Ynglis archeris schot so fast
That, mycht thar schot haf had last,6
It had beyne hard to Scottis men. . . .

For quhen the Scottis ynkirly 7
Saw thair fais sa sturdeiy
Stand into 8 battale thame agane,

With all thar mycht and all thar mayne
Thai layd on, as men out of wit ;

For quhar thai with full strak 9 mycht hit,
Thair mycht no armyng 10 stynt thar strak ;
Thai tofruschit11 thame thai mycht ourtak,12
And with axis sic duschis 13 gaff
That thai helmys and hedis claff.

And thair fais richt hardely

Met thame, and dang 14 on douchtely 15

With wapnys that war stith 16 of steill.

Thar wes the battell strikyn 17 weill ;

So gret dynnyng ther wes of dyntis,

As wapnys apon armor styntis,

And of speris so gret bristing,18
With sic thrawing 19 and sic thristing,20
Sic gyrnyng,21 granyng,22 and so gret
A noyis, as thai can othir bet,23
And cryit ensengeis 24 on everilk syd,

Gifand and takand woundis wyd,

1 that

9 stroke

1” engaged

2 shower

1° armor

18 breaking,

3 assert

11 crushed

I9 throwing

4 token

12 overtake

20 thrusting

5 healing

is severe blows

21 grinning

6 lasted

I4 struck

22 groaning

" in particular, for their part

15 valiantly

28 beat

8 in

1R strong

24 war-cries

246

CHRONICLES

That it wes hydwiss for till her
All four the battelis,1 wicht that wer,
Fechtand intill a front haly.2
Almychty God ! full douchtely
Schir Edward the Brys and his men
Amang thair fais 8 contenyt thame 4 then. „
For all the Scottis men that war thar,
Quhen thai saw thame 6 eschew the ficht,
Dang on thame swa with all thar mycht
That thai scalit 0 in tropellis 7 ser,8
And till discumfitur war ner ;

And sum of thame fled all planly.9
Bot thai that wicht war and hardy,

That schame letit 10 till ta 11 the flicht,

At gret myschef mantenyt 12 the ficht,

And stithly in the stour 13 can stand.

And quhen the king of Ingland
Saw his men fie in syndry 14 place,

And saw his fais rout,10 that was
Worthyn 16 so wicht and so hardy,

That all his folk war halely 17

Swa stonayit 18 that thai had no mycht

To stynt 19 thair fais in the ficht,

He was abasit 20 so gretumly 21
That he and all his cumpany,

Fif hundreth armyt weill at rycht,

Intill a frusche22 all tuk the flycht,

And till the castell held ther way.

And jeit, as I herd sum men say,

That of Wallanch Schir Amer,23

1 battalions

2 abreast, all in one rank (?)
8 foes

4 demeaned themselves

6 the English
8 dispersed

7 small companies

8 separate

9 openly

10 prevented

11 from taking

12 maintained

18 combat, battle

14 sundry

15 host

is become

17 entirely

78 astonished, dismayed

19 stop, check

20 cast down, discouraged

21 greatly, extremely

22 rush, sudden breaking of ranks
28 Sir Aymer de Valence

BARBOUR, THE BRUCE

247

Quhen he the feld saw vencust 1 ner,
By the renge 2 * led avay the king,

Agane his will, fra the fichting.

And quhen Schir Gelis de Argente 8
Saw the king thus, and his menge,
Schape thame4 to fle so spedely,

He com richt to the kyng in hy,

And said : ' Schir, sen that it is swa
That ge thusgat 5 gour gat 6 will ga,
Haffis 7 gud day ! for agane 8 will I ;
^yheit fled I nevir sekirly ;

And 1 cheis heir to byde and de,

Than till lif heir and schamfully fle.’
His brydill than but mair abaid 9
He turnyt, and agane he raid,

And on Schir Eduard the Brysis 10 rout
That wes so sturdy and so stout,

As dreid of na kyn thing 11 had he,

He prikit,12 cryand ' Argente ! ’

And thai with speris swa him met,

And swa feill speris on hym set,

That he and hors war chargit 18 swa
That bath doune to the erd can ga ;
And in that place than slayne wes he.
Of his ded wes rycht gret pite ;

He wes the thrid best knycht, perfay,
That men wist liffand in his day ;

He did mony a fair journe.14

n no sort of thing

12 rode hard

13 pressed hard

14 day’s fighting

1 vanquished

2 rein

8 Giles de Argentine

4 prepare themselves

5 thus

b way

7 have

8 (turn) back again

9 without more delay
1° Bruce’s

26. thrid : the other two named by Lord Ilailes (Ann. Scot. 2. 48) are the
Emperor Henry of Luxembourg and Robert Bruce.

STORIES OF TRAVEL

SIR JOHN MANDEVILLE

The work which passes under the name of Sir J ohn Mandeville was probably
the production of a certain Jean de Bourgogne, called the Bearded, who died
at Liege on November 17, 1372. According to the chronicle composed by Jean
d’Outremeuse (1338-1399), this Jean de Bourgogne styled himself in his will
Jean de Mandeville, and revealed on his deathbed to the chronicler that, having
had the misfortune to kill an earl in his own country, England, he had bound him¬
self to traverse three parts of the world. His tomb was to be seen at Liege till
1798, with an inscription which ran ( Diet . Nat. Biog. 36. 26) : ' Hie jacet vir nobi-
lis Dom. Joannes de Mandeville, alias dictus ad Barbam, Miles, Dominus de
Campdi, natus de Anglia, medicinae professor, devotissimus orator, et bonorum
suorum largissimus pauperibus erogator, qui, toto quasi orbe lustrato, Leodii
diem vitse suae clausit extremum, A.D. MCCCLXXII, mensis Nov. die X\ II.’

Whatever traveling Mandeville (or Bourgogne) may have done, almost his
whole work is a tissue of borrowings and adaptations from such writings as
William of Boldensele’s Itinerary (published 1336), Odoric of Pordenone’s
Itinerary (1330), Hetoun the Armenian’s History of the Orietit (1307), the
so-called Epistle of Prester fohn, etc. The work was first written in French,
and afterwards translated into English, Latin, and a variety of other languages.

Dr. Warner says [Diet. Nat. Biog. 36.28) : 'Avowedly written for the un¬
learned, and combining interest of matter and a quaint simplicity of style, the
book hit the popular taste. . . . No mediaeval work was more widely diffused in
the vernacular.’ Some three hundred manuscripts are said to be in existence.
There are three English versions, of which two, both contained in manuscripts
of 1410-1420, are superior to the other. One of these (in Cotton MS. Titus 6. 16)
is the text generally found in print; the other, in Northern dialect (in Egerton
MS. 1982), was published by G. F. Warner in 1889, with an excellent introduc¬
tion and notes, and is that from which our extracts are taken. For fuller accounts
see Encyc. Brit, and Diet. Nat. Biog. s.v. ; Camb. Hist. Eng. Lit. 2.90-100.

THE REBIRTH OF THE PHCENIX

Text, p. 25. In order to show the relation of the English translation to the
original, a passage of the French text printed by Dr. Warner is here repro¬
duced; but it must be understood that this undoubtedly differs from the precise
text on which the present English version is based :

En Egipte est la cite de Eliopole, cest a dire la cite de solail. En celle y ad une
temple fait reonde, a la guise de temple de Jerusalem. Luy preistres de ceo temple ad

248

SIR JOHN MANDEVILLE

249

par escript la date del oysel qad a noun Fenix, qi nest qe un soul en monde, et se vient
la arder sur laulter de ceo temple au chief de vc ans, qar tant vit il. Ly preistres appa-
raille et met sur cel aulter espices, et soufre vif, et autres choses qi legerement enflau-
ment, si qe ly oisel se vient ardoir tot en cendres. Et le primer iour apres lem troeve
as cendres un verm ; et le secund iour lem trove loisel tot parfait ; et le tiercz iour il
sen vole. Et ensi ni ad totdys qe un oisel soul de celle nature ; et vrayment ceo est grant
miracle de Dieu. Et puet homme comparer cel oisel a Dieu, en ceo qe ni ad Dieu forsqe
un soul, et en ceo qe nostre Seignur resuscita le tiercz iour. Cest oisel veit homme souent
voler en celles parties. Et nest gairs pluis grant dun aigle ; et il ad un crest sur la teste
pluis grant qe un pauon, et ad col tout iaune de la colour dun oriel bien lusant, et le dos
de ynde, et les aeles de purpre colour, et la cowe reget de travers de iaune et de rouge.
Et est tres belle a veoir au solail, qar il tresluyt mult noblement.

In Egipte also es a citee pat es called Eliople,1 pat es als mykill at
say 2 as ]>e citee of )>e sonne. In pis citee es a temple, round in pe
maner of )>e temple of Jerusalem, pe preste of pe temple has writen
in a buke pe date of a fewle8 pat men calles Fenix; and per es bot
ane in all )>e werld. And )>is fewle liffes fyve hundreth jere ; and at 5
pe fyve hundreth jere 4 end he commes to pe forsaid temple, and
apon pe awter he brynnes himself all to powder. And pe preste of
pe temple, pat knawes by his buke pe tyme of his commyng, makes
pe awter redy, and lays perapon diverse spiceries 6 and sulphure vive,6
and stikkes of pe junipre tree, and oper thinges pat will sone brynne. 10
And pan the fewle commes, and lightes apon pe awter, and fannez
with his wenges ay till pe forsaid thinges be sett on fire ; and pare he
brynnes himself all till asches. On pe morue 7 pai fynd in pe asches as
it ware a worme ; on pe secund day pat worme es turned till a fewle
perfitely fourmed ; and on pe thridd day it flies fra pat place to pe 15
place whare it was wont to dwell. And so per es nevermare bot ane.
pis ilke fewle betakens oure Lord Jesu Criste, in als mykill as per
es bot a 8 Godd, pat rase on pe thridd day fra deed to lyfe. pis for¬
said fewle es ofttymes sene ayrand 9 aboute, when pe weder es faire
and clere ; and pai say pare pat when pai see pat fewle sore in pe aer, 20
pai sail afterward hafe gude geres and miry, for pai say it es a fewle
of heven. And pis fewle es na mare pan ane egle of body. He has
on his heved a creste as a pacok, bot it es mykill mare pan pe creste

1 Heliopolis, a short distance

from Cairo

2 as much as to say

3 bird

4 year’s 7 morrow

6 spicy substances 8 one

8 sulphur vivum, horse 9 moving in the air

brimstone

250

STORIES OF TRAVEL

of a pacok. His nekke es £alow, and his back es ynde 1 colour ; his
wenges er reed, and his taile es barred overthwert 2 with grene and
jalowe and reed. And in fe sonne he semes wonder faire, for fir 8 er
fe colours fat er fairest schewand.4

THE PARADISE OF THE OLD MAN OF THE MOUNTAIN

Text, pp. 137-8. Almost any encyclopaedia, and the larger dictionaries
under the word ' Assassin,’ will give some information on the matter of this
section. The Assassins were so called because they were intoxicated with
hashish (see the ' maner of drinke ’ below). Mandeville draws from Odoric
(Yule, Cathay 1. 153-5) or Marco Polo (Book 1, chap. 22); see Yule’s notes to
both. The ' old man,’ or sheikh, derived his title from the mountainous region
south of the Caspian which was under his sway. In particular, he had a moun¬
tain castle at Alamut in the Elburz range, some ninety miles northwest of
Teheran, and just south of a line joining Teheran and Rasht. The rise of this
power may be assigned to 1090, or thereabouts, and the destruction of the
castles where the sheikhs held sway to about 1256.

5 Besyde fe ile of Pentoxore, fe whilk es Prestre Johnez, es anofer
ile bathe lang and brade, fe whilk es called Mulstorak 5 ; and it es
under fe lordschepe of Prestre John. In fis ile es grete plentee of all
maner of gudes and ricchess. And in fat land was sum tyme a riche
man fat was called Catolonabes, and he was a grete man and a won-
10 der wyly. And he had a faire castell and a strang, standand apon a
hill, and he gert6 make aboute it strang wallez and hie. And within
fase wallez he gert make a faire gardyn, and plant ferin all maner of
treez berand diverse fruytz. He gert plant ferin also all maner of
erbez of gude smell, and fat bare faire floures. )?are ware also in fat
15 gardyne many faire welles, and besyde faim ware many faire halles
and chaumbres, paynted with gold and azure wele and curiousely with
diverse storys, and with diverse maners of briddes, Je whilk semed,
as fai sang and turned by engyne,7 as fai had bene all quikke.8 He
putte also in fat gardyne all maner of fewles fat he myght get, and
20 all maner of bestez fat he myght fynd, to make a man solace and dis-
porte. And he putte also into fat gardyne faire damysellz within fe

1 blue (indigo) 4 showing (i.e. to look upon) 6 caused to

2 crosswise 5 Melazgerd, in Armenia, north " mechanism

8 these of Lake Van 8 aiive

SIR JOHN MANDEVILLE

251

elde 1 of xv jere, pe fairest pat he myjt fynd, and knafe 2 childre of
pe same elde ; and pai ware all cledd in clathes of gold. And pase, he
said, ware aungelles. Also he gert make in pe forsaid gardyn three
faire welles of precious stanes, closed aboute with jasper and cristall,
wele bunden with gold and oper precious stanes. And he gert make 5
cundytes3 under pe erthe, so ]>at, when he wald, ane of pir4 wellez
ran of wyne, anoper of mylke, anoper of hony, thurgh pir forsaid
cundytes. And pis place called he Paradys. And, when any jung
bachelere of ]>e cuntree come to him, he ledd him into pis Paradys
and schewed him all pise forsaid thingez. And he had diverse myn- 10
stralles prively in hye toure pat pai myght nojt be sene, playand on
diverse instrumentez of music. And he said pat pai ware Goddes
aungelles, and pat pat was Paradys pat Godd graunted to base pat
he lufes, sayand on pis wyse : Da bo vobis terram fluentem lac et mel ,6
pat es to say, ' I sail giffe to gow land flowande mylke and hony.’ 15
And pan pis ryche man gafe to pise men a maner of drinke, of whilke
pai ware drunken alssone 6 ; and pan pai ware mare blinded pan pai
ware before, and wend pai had bene in full blisse. And he said pam
pat, if pai wald putte paim in juperdy of deed 7 for his sake, when
pai wrare deed pai schuld com into his Paradys, and pai schuld ever- 20
mare be of pe elde of pe forsaid damyselles, and pai schuld evermare
dwell with pam, and have lyking8 and dalyaunce of pam, and ever¬
mare be maydens, and after a certayne tyme he schuld putte pam
in a fairer Paradys, whare pai schuld see Godd in his majestee, and
in his blisse and joy. And pan pai graunted at9 do all pat he wald 25
bidd pam do. And pan he bad pam ga to swilk a place, and sla 10
swilke a lorde or man of pe cuntree, whilk was his enmy, and pat pai
schuld hafe na drede, for, if pai ware deed, pai schuld be putte into
pat Paradys. And pus gert he sla many lordes of pe cuntree ; and
also many of pise men ware slaen, in hope to hafe pis Paradys pat he 30
hight 11 pam. And pus he venged him on his enmys thurgh pis des-
sayte.12 And when lordes and riche men of pe cuntree persayved pis
malice and wyle of him, pis Catolonabes, pai gadred pam togyder and

1 age 5 Cf. Ley. 20. 24 9 to

2 boy 6 at once 10 slay

3 conduits 7 death 11 promised

4 these 8 pleasure 12 deceit

252

STORIES OF TRAVEL

assailed pis castell, and slew Catolonabes, and destruyd all his ricchess
and faire thinges pat ware in his Paradys, and kest doune his castell ;
and git er pe welles pare, and sum other thinges, hot na ricchess. It
es nogt lang sen it was destruyd.

THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH

Text, p. 84. Mandeville is here indebted to the so-called Letter of Prester
John , extant before 1177- The Latin runs (Zarncke, Der Priester Johannes, in
Abh. Phil.-Hist. Classe der Konigl.-Sachs. Ges. der Wiss., Vol. 7, Leipzig, 1879,
pp. 912-3): 'Quod nemus situm est ad radicem montis Olimpi, unde fons
perspicuus oritur, omnium in se specierum saporem retinens. Variatur autem
sapor per singulas horas diei et noctis, et progreditur itinere dierum trium non
longe a Paradyso, unde Adam fuit expulsus. Si quis de fonte illo ter jejunus
gustaverit, nullam ex ilia die infirmitatem patietur, semperque erit quasi in
aetate XXX duorum annorum, quamdiu vixerit.’ The European notions of
the Fountain of Youth all go back to this, according to E. \V. Hopkins ('The
Fountain of Youth,’ in Jour. Am. Or. Soc. 26 (1905). 32 ff.).

S At pe heved of pis ilk forest es pe citee of Polombe ; and besyde
pat citee es a mountayne wharoff pe citee takez pe name, for men
callez pe mountayne Polombe. And at pe fote of pis mountayne es a
well, noble and faire ; and pe water peroff has a swete savour and
reflaire,1 as it ware of diverse maner of spicery. And ilke houre of pe
10 day pe water chaungez diversely his savour and his smell. And wha
so drinkes fastand thryes of pat well, he sail be hale of what maner
of malady pat he hase. And forpi 2 pa 8 pat wonnez 4 nere pat well
drynkez peroff pe offer, and perfore pai hafe nevermare sekeness, bot
evermare pai seme gung. I, John Maundevill, sawe pis well, and
15 drank peroff thrys and all my felawes, and evermare sen pat tyme I
fele me pe better and pe haler, and suppose 5 for to do till pe tyme pat
Godd of his grace will make me to passe oute of pis dedly lyf. Sum
men callez pat well Fons Juventutis, pat es for to say, pe well of gowthe-
hede 6 ; for pai pat drinkez peroff semez allway sung. And pai say pis

1 odor 3 those 5 MS. supposez

2 therefore 4 dwell 6 youth

5. Polombe : Quilon, or Quillon, not far from Cape Comorin, the southern¬
most point of India, on the west coast (Yule, Cathay 12. 71).

SIR JOHN MANDEVILLE

253

well commez fra Paradys terrestre,1 for it es so vertuous. Thurgh-
oute all |>is cuntree f er growes pe best gynger fat es ower whare 2 * ;
and marchaunds commez fider fra ferre cuntreez for to bye it.

ST. THOMAS AND INDIAN IDOLATRY

Text, pp. 86-7. From Odoric, chaps. iS, 19 (Yule, Cathay 1.80-83).

Fra pis land men gase by many diverse placez to a cuntree J>at es
called Mabaron8 ; and it es fra fe forsaid land x day-journeez. And 5
it es a grete rewme 4 and a large, and many gude citeez and tounes
ferin. In fat land of Mabaron liez Sayne Thomas pe apostle, and his
body all hale, in a faire toumbe in f e citee of Calamy 5 ; for fare was
he martird and graven.6 Bot afterwardes fe Assirienes tuke his body,
and bare it to a citee in Mesopotamy fat es called Edisse.7 Bot eft- to
sones 8 it was translated agayne to fe foresaid citee, and layd in fe
forsaid toumbe ; and his arme with his hand fat he putt in oure
Lordes syde after his resurreccioun, when he said, Noli esse incredulus ,
sed fidelis ,9 lyez withouten in a vessell. And by that hand men of
fat cuntree giffez faire jugementz, to wit wha has rigt. For if any 15
stryf be betwene twa parties, and ayther party affermez fat he has
rigt in his cause, fan fai ger write in a scrowe 10 f e rigt of ayther party,
and puttez fase billes in fe hand of Sayne 11 Thomas ; and als fast 12 fe
hand castez oute fe bille fat contenez fe fals cause, and fe tofer it
haldez still. And ferfore men commez ofttymes oute of ferre cuntreez 20
fider, for to declare a rigtwys cause betwene party and party, fe whilk
es in doute. J?e kirke whare Sayne Thomas lyes es mykill and faire,
and full of ymagery of faire mawmets 13 ; and fase ymagez er ilk ane
of fe stature of twa men at fe leste.

Bot fare es ane fat passez all ofer of stature ; and fat es richely and 25
really 14 enoumed 15 with gold and precious stanes all aboute, and sittez

1 earthly

2 anywhere where (redun¬

dant phrase)

8 the Coromandel coast of
southern India (Yule,
Cathay i. So)

4 realm

5 St. Thomas, a few miles
south of Madras
8 buried

7 Edessa, or Urfa, in Syria

8 afterwards

9 John 20. 27
10 scroll

n saint

l2 as fast as might be, very
fast

1® false gods, idols (lit. Ma-
homets)

14 royally
18 adorned

254

STORIES OF TRAVEL

in a chaier nobelly arraied. And he has aboute his nekk as it ware
brade gyrdils 1 of silke, wele hernayst 2 with gold and preciouse stanes.
To pat ymage men commez fra ferre in pilgrimage with grete devo-
cioun, als comounly als Cristen men commez to Sayne James.3 And
5 sum of pam, for pe grete devocioun pai hafe to fat mawmet, ay as pai
ga, er lukand douneward to pe erthe, and will nojt luke aboute pam,
for ]>ai schuld see nathing pat schuld lette paire devocioun. J>are
commez sum also pider in pilgrimage pat beres scharpe knyfes in paire
handes, with whilk, ay as pai ga by pe way, J^ai wound pamself in pe
io legges and pe armes, and in oper placez of paire body, pat pe blude
rynnez doune fra per woundes in grete fuysoun.4 And pis pai do for
lufe of pat ydole, and saise pat he es full blissed pat will dye for pe
lufe of his mawmet. And sum of pam bringez with pam paire childer,
and slaez paim and makes sacrifice of pam to paire mawmet ; and pai
15 take pe blude of paire childer, and sprenklez it apon pe ymage. Sum,
also, fra 5 pai passe oute of per housez til pai comme before paire maw¬
met, at ilke a thridd passe knelis doune apon pe erthe with grete de¬
vocioun. And pai bring with pam incense and oper thinges swete
smelland, for to turify 6 pat ymage, as we do here to Goddes body.
20 And pare es before pat ymage, as it ware, a poonde 7 or a vyver,8 full
of water ; and into pat pilgrimes castez gold and silver and precious
stanes withouten noumer, insteed of offerand. And forpi pe mynis-
ters pat kepez pat ilk mawmet, when pai hafe mister9 of any monee
for reparailyng of paire kirk, or for any oper thing pat fallez to pat
25 ilke mawmet, pai ga to pat ilke poonde, and takez oute peroff als
mykill as pam nedez. And je schall understand pat, when grete festez
commez of pat mawmet, as pe dedicacioun of pe kirk or pe tronyng 10
}f pat mawmet, all pe cuntree assemblez pider; and pai sett pis maw¬
met with grete wirschepe in a chariot, wele arraid with clathez of gold
30 and of silke, and ledez him with grete sollempnitee aboute pe citee.
And before pe chariot gase first in processioun all pe maydens of pe
cuntree, twa and twa togyder ; and pan all pe pilgrymmes pat commez
pider fra ferre cuntreez, of whilke sum for pe grete devocioun pai

1 a broad girdle 5 from the time when 9 need

2 ornamented 6 incense lo throning

3 Saint James of Compostella pond

4 abundance, profusion 8 aquarium {vivarium)

SIR JOHN MANDEVILLE

255

hafe to J>at mawmet fallez doune before ]>e chariot, and latez it gang
over bam. And so er sum of |>am slayne, sum )>aire armes and sum
J>aire schankes broken ; and )>ai trowe ]>at, ]>e mare payne bai suffer
here for lufe of ]>aire mawmet, be mare joy in be tober werld sail }rai
hafe, and be nerre ]>aire godd sail ]>ai be. And sikerly ]>ai suffer so 5
mykill payne and martirdom apon baire bodys for be lufe of ]>at ilke
mawmet, bat unnethes 1 will any Cristen man suffer half so mykill,
ne )>e tende2 parte, for J>e lufe of oure Lorde Jesu Criste.

THE SULTAN OF EGYPT
Text, pp. 20-1

pe sowdan 3 has three wyfes, of j>e whilke ane sail be a Cristen
womman, and ]>e o]>er twa Sarezenes. And ane of Jdr wyfes sail dwell 10
in Jerusalem, anoj’er at Damasc, and )>e thridd at Ascalon.4 And, ay
when him list, he gase to visit ]>am, and umqwhyle 6 ledes |>am aboute
with him. Noght for]n 6 he has lemmanes, als many as him list have ;
for, when he comes till any citee or toune, he gers bring before him
all ]>e nobilest and be fairest maydens of be cuntree nere aboute, and 15
he gers bam be keped honestly and wirschipfully. And, when he will
hafe any of bam, he gers ]>aim all be broght before him, and wha so
es maste lykand till him, he sendes till hir or takes be ryng off his
fynger, and castez till hir. And )>an sail scho be tane,7 and waschen
and bawmed 8 and wirschipfully cledd, and after souper be broght till 20
his chaumbre. And ]>us he duse ay when he will. Before ]>e sowdan
sail na straunger com bat he ne sail be cledd in clathe of gold or tars 9
or in chamelet,10 a maner of clething whilk ]>e Sarzenes usez. And als
sone as he has sight of be sowdan, be it at wyndow or elleswhare,
him behoves knele doune and kisse j>e erthe ; for swilk es be maner 25
bare to do reverence to be sowdan, when any man will speke with
him. And when any straungers commes till him in message 11 oute of
ferre landes, his men sail stand aboute him with drawen swerdes in
handes, and ]>er handes up on loft,12 to stryke bam doune, if ]>ai speke

1 scarcely, with difficulty 5 from time to time 9 a rich Oriental stuff

2 tenth 6 none the less ln damasked silk

3 sultan 7 taken 11 on an embassy

4 West of Jerusalem, on the coast 8 anointed 12 aloft

256

STORIES OF TRAVEL

any thing pat displesez )>e sowdan. pare sail na straunger com before
him for to ask him any thing pat ne his asked sail be graunted him,
if it be resounable and nogt agayne paire lawe. And rigt so duse all
oper princez and lordes in pat cuntree ; for ]>ai say pat na man suld
5 com before a prince )>at he ne schuld passe gladder away fan he
come piderward.

THE EARTH IS ROUND
Text, pp. 90-2

And ge schall understand pat in pis land, and in many oper pare
aboute, men may nogt see )>e steme1 Eat es called Polus Articus ,
whilk standes even north and stirrez never, by whilk schippemen er
10 ledd, for it es nogt sene in pe south. Bot per es anoper steme, whilke
es called antartic, and pat es even agayne 2 pe toper sterne ; and by
pat sterne er schippemen ledd pare, as schippemen er ledd here by
Polus Articus. And, rigt as pat sterne may nogt be sene here, on pe
same wyse pis sterne may nogt be sene pare. And pareby may men
15 see wele pat pe werld es all rounde ; for parties3 of pe firmament
whilk may be sene in sum cuntree may nogt be sene in anoper. And
pat may men prove pus. For, if a man myght fynd redy schipping
and gude company, and perto had his hele,4 and wald ga to see pe
werld, he myght ga all aboute pe werld, bathe aboven and benethe.
20 And pat prufe I pus, after5 pat I hafe sene. For I hafe bene in
Braban,6 and sene by pe astrolaby 7 pat pe pole artyc es pare liii de-
greez hegh, and in Almayne 8 towardes Boem 9 it has lviii degrez, and
forpermare 10 toward pe north it has lxii degrez of height and sum
mynutes. All pis I persayved by pe astrolaby. And ge schall under-
25 stand pat in pe south, even ynentes 11 pis sterne, es pe sterne pat es
called pole antartic. Jtise twa sternes stirrez never mare ; and aboute
paim movez pe firmament, as a qwhele 12 duse aboute ane axeltree.
And so pe lyne pat es betwene pise twa sternez departez 18 all pe firma¬
ment in twa partes, ayther ylike mykill.14 Afterwardes I went toward

1 star

2 exactly opposite to

3 parts

4 health

5 according to

6 Brabant
’ astrolabe

8 Germany

9 Bohemia

10 further

n exactly opposite

12 wheel

13 separates

14 much alike

SIR JOHN MANDEVILLE

257

fe south, and I fand )>at in Liby 1 2 * seez men first ]>e sterne antartyke ;
and, as 1 went ferrer, I fand fat in hie Liby it hase in height xviii de-
greez and sum mynutes, of whilke mynutes lx makez a degre. And
so, passand by land and by see toward )>e cuntree fat I spakk off
are,'-* and ofer landes and iles pat er bejond, I fand pat pis sterne 5
antartik had in height xxxiii degreez. And, if I had had cumpany
and schipping pat wald hafe gane ferrer, I trow forsothe fat we schuld
hafe sene all fe roundeness of fe firmament, fat es to say bathe fe
emisperies,8 fe uppermare and fe nedermare.4 For, as I sayd gow
before, halfe fe firmament es betwene fise twa sternes ; fe whilk I 10
hafe sene. . . . And ferfore I say sikerly fat a man myght go all fe
werld aboute, bathe aboven and bynethe, and comme agayne to his
awen cuntree, so pat he had his hele, gude schipping, and gude com¬
pany, as I said before. And all way he schuld fynd men, landes, and
iles and citeez and townes, as er in fir cuntrees. For je wate wele 15
fat fase men fat dwellez even under fe pole antartyk er fote agayne
fote to fase fat dwellez even under fe pole artyke, als wele as we
and fase men fat dwellez agaynes us er fote agayne fote ; and rijt
so it es of ofer parties of fe werld. For ilke a party of fe erthe and
of fe see hase his contrary of thinges, whilk er even 6 agaynes him. 20
And je schall understand fat, as I conjecture, fe land of Prestre John,
Emperour of Inde, es even under us. For, if a man schall ga fra
Scotland or Ingland unto Jerusalem, he sail ga all way upward. For
oure land es fe lawest6 party of fe west, and fe land of Prestre John
es in fe lawest party of fe este. And fai hafe day when we hafe nyght, 25
and nyght when we hafe day. And, als mykill as a man ascendes
upward oute of oure cuntreez to Jerusalem, als mykill schall he go
dounward to fe land of Prestre John ; and fe cause es for fe erthe
and fe see er rounde. For it es fe comoun worde fat Jerusalem es
in myddes of fe erthe ; and fat may wele be proved fus. For, and a 30
man fare take a spere and sett it even in fe erthe at midday, when
fe day and fe nyght er bathe ylyke lang, it makez na schadowe till na
party.7 And David also beres witnes feroff, fare he saise : Dens autem

1 Libya 4 nether 7 direction

2 before 5 just, exactly

8 hemispheres 6 lowest

258

STORIES OF TRAVEL

rex noster ante secula operatus est salutem in medio terre ,* pat es to say :
' Godd oure kyng before pe begynnyng of pe werld wroght hele in
myddes of pe erthe.’ And perfore pai pat gase oute of oure cuntreez
of pe west toward Jerusalem, als many journez 1 2 as )>ai make to ga
S pider upward, als many journez sail pai make to ga in to pe land of
Prestre John dounward fra Jerusalem. And so he may ga into pase
iles envirounand all pe roundness of pe erthe and of pe see, till he
com even under us. And perfore I hafe ofttymes thoght on a tale pat
I herd, when I was jung, how a worthy man of oure cuntree went
10 on a tyme for to see pe werld ; and he passed Inde 3 4 and many iles
byjonde Inde, whare er ma pan vm 4 iles, and he went so lang by land
and by see, envirounand ]>e werld, pat he fand ane ile whare he herd
men speke his awen langage. For he herd ane 5 dryfe bestez, sayand
to pam swilke wordes as he herd men say til oxen in his awen cun-
1 5 tree gangand at pe plugh ; of whilk he had grete mervaile, for he wist
nojt how it myght be. Bot I suppose he had so lang went 6 on land
and on see, envirounand pe werld, pat he was commen in to his awen
marchez 7 ; and, if he had passed forpermare, he schuld hafe commen
even to his awen cuntree. Bot for he herd pat mervaile, and myght
20 get schipping na ferrere, he turned agayne as he come ; and so he
hcd a grete travaile. And it befell efterward pat he went into Nor¬
way ; and a tempest of wynd in pe see drafe him, so pat he arryved
in ane ile. And, when he was pare, he wist wele it was pe ile in whilk
he had bene before and herd his awen speche, as men drafe bestez.
25 And pat myght wele be; pof all 8 it be pat symple men of cunnyng
trowe nojt pat men may ga under pe erthe bot-if9 pai fall unto pe
firmament. For as us think 10 pat pase men er under us, so think paim
pat we er under paim.

1 Ps. 74. 12 5 one, a man 9 unless

2 day’s journeys 6 traveled 10 it seems to us

3 India " borders

4 five thousand * even though

SIR JOHN MANDEVILLE

259

THE TERRESTRIAL PARADISE

Text, pp. 149-50. To afford an opportunity of comparison with the current
Southern text, the beginning of this section is here transcribed from Halliwell’s
reprint (London, 1839, p. 303), with changes in capitalization: 'And bejonde
the lond and the yles and the desertes of Prestre Johnes lordschipe, in goynge
streyght toward the est, men fynde nothing but mountaynes and roches fulle
grete: and there is the derke regyoun, where no man may see, nouther be day
ne be nyght, as thei of the contree seyn. And that desert and that place of
derknesse duren fro this cost unto Taradys Terrestre, where that Adam, oure
foremest fader, and Eve weren putt, that dwelleden there but lytylle while ;
aftd that is towards the est, at the begynnynge of the erthe.’

For the subject in general, see Coli, II Paradise Terrestre Dantesco , Flor¬
ence, 1897.

Begond pir ilez J>at I hafe talde gow off, and pe desertez of pe lord-
schepe of Prestre John, to ga even 1 est, es na land inhabited, as I said
before, bot wastez and wildernessez, and grete rochez and moun¬
taynes, and a myrk 2 land, whare na man may see, nyght ne day, as
men of pas cuntreez talde us. And pat mirk land and pase desertez 5
laste rigt to Paradyse terrestre, wharein Adam and Eve ware putte ;
bot pai ware pare bot a lytill while. And pat place es toward pe este, at
pe begynnyng of pe erthe. Bot pat es nogt oure este, whare pe sonne
risez till us ; for when pe sonne risez in pase cuntreez, pan es it mid-
nyght in our cuntree, because of pe roundness of pe erthe. For, as I 10
said before, Godd made pe erthe all rounde, in myddez of pe firma¬
ment. Bot pe hillez and pe valays pat er now on pe erthe er nogt bot
of Noe flude, thurgh pe whilk pe tendre erthe was remowed fra his
place, and pare become a valay, and pe hard erthe habade 8 still, and
pare er now hilles. 1 5

Off Paradys can I nogt speke properly, for I hafe nogt bene pare ;
and pat forthinkez4 me. Bot als mykill as I hafe herd of wyse men,
and men of credence, of pase cuntreez, I will tell gow. Paradys ter-
restre, as men saise, es pe hiest land of pe werld ; and it es so hye
pat it touchez nere to pe cercle of pe moone. For it es so hye pat 20
Noe 5 ffode myght nogt com perto, whilk flude coverd all pe erthe bot
it. Paradys es closed all aboute with a wall ; bot whareoff pe wall es

1 directly

2 dark, gloomy

8 abode
4 that I regret

5 Noah’s

200

STORIES OF TRAVEL

made, can na man tell. It es all mosse-begrowen, and coverd so with
mosse and with bruschez pat men may see na stane, ne nogt elles
wharoff a wall schuld be made, pe walle of Paradys strechez fra pe
south toward pe north ; and per es nane entree open into it, because
5 of fire evermare brynnand, pe whilk es called pe flawmand swerde 1 pat
Godd ordaynd pare before pe entree, for na man schuld entre.

In pe middes of Paradys es a well, out of pe whilke per commez
foure flodez,2 pat rynnez thurgh diverse landez. p'\r 3 flodez sinkez doune
into pe erthe within Paradyse, and rynnez so under pe erthe many a
io myle, and afterwardes comme pai up agayne oute of pe erthe in ferre
cuntreez.

SIR JOHN’S MODESTY
Text, pp. 1 55-6

pare er many oper cuntreez and oper mervailes whilk I hafe nogt
sene, and perfore I can nogt speke properly of pam ; and also in cun¬
treez whare I hafe bene er many mervailes of whilk I speke nogt, for it
15 ware owere4 lang to tell. And also I will tell na mare of mervailes pat
er pare, so pat oper men pat wendez pider may fynd many new thingez
to speke off, whilk I hafe nogt spoken off. For many men hase grete
lykyng and desyre for to here new thinges ; and perfore will I now
ceesse of tellyng of diverse thingez pat I sawe in pase cuntreez, so pat
20 pase pat covetez to visit pase cuntrez may fynd new thinges ynewe to
tell off, for solace and recreacioun of paim pat lykez to here pam.

And I, John Mawndevill, knyght, pat went oute of my cuntree,
and passed pe see, pe gere of oure Lord Jesu Criste MCCCXXXII,
and hase passed thurgh many landes, cuntreez, and iles, and hase bene
25 at many wirschipfull journeez6 and dedez of armez with worthy men
— if all 6 I be unworpi — and now am commen to rest, as man dis-
comfitt for age and travaile and febilness of body, pat constraynez me
parto, and for oper certayne causez, I hafe compiled pis buke and
writen it, as it coome to my mynde, in pe gere of oure Lord Jesu
30 Criste MCCCLXVI, pat es for to say, in pe foure and thrittyde gere
efter pat I departed oute of pis land, and tuke my way piderward.

1 Gen. 3. 24

2 Gen. 2. 10 ff.

3 these

4 too

5 days of battle

6 even if

SIR JOHN MANDEVILLE

261

And for als mykill as many men trovvez no^t bot fat at1 fai see
with faire eghen, or Rat )>ai may consayve with faire awen kyndely2
wittes, ferfore I made my way in my commyng hamward unto Rome,
to schew my buke till oure Haly Fader fe Pape. And I tald him fe
mervailes whilk I had sene in diverse cuntreez, so fat he, with his 5
wyse counsaile, wald examyne it with diverse folke Rat er in Rome —
for fare er evermare dwelland men of all naciouns of fe werld. And
a lytill after, when he and his wyse counsaile had hxamynde it all
thurgh, he said to me for certayne fat all was soth fat was ferin.
For he said fat he had a buke of Latyn fat conteyned all fat and 10
mykill mare, after whilk buke the Mappa Mundi es made ; and fat
buke he schewed me. And ferfore oure Haly Fader fe Pape hase
ratified and confermed my buke in all poyntes.

Qwherfore I pray til all fase fat redez f is buke, or heres it redd, fat
fai will pray for me, and I schall pray for faim. And all fase fat saise 1 5
for me devotely a Pater Noster and ane Ave, fat Godd forgife me my
synnez, he graunt fam parte of all my pilgrimage, and all ofer gude
dedis fat I hafe done, or may do in tyme commyng unto my lyfez end.
And I, in fat in me es, makez fam parceneres 8 of me,4 prayand to
Godd, of wrham all grace commez, fat he fulfill with his grace all fase 20
fat fis buke redez or heres, and save fam and kepe fam in body and
saule, and after fis lyf bring fam to fe cuntree whare joy es, and
endles rest, and peesse withouten end. Amen.

A PILGRIMAGE BY SEA TO COMPOSTELLA

The manuscript containing this poem has been ascribed to the time of
Henry VI (1422— 147 1 ). It is here printed from Furnivall’s edition of The
Stations of Rome (E.E.T.S. No. 25).

Men may leve alle gamys 5

That saylen to Seynt Jamys,6 25

Ffor many a man hit gramys,7
When they begyn to sayle ;

4 m S. fam 6 Santiago de Compostella, in the province

5 put aside all mirth of Galicia, in northwestern Spain

t distresses

1 that

2 natural, native

8 sharers, partners

262 STORIES OF TRAVEL

Ffor when they have take the see
At Sandwyche 1 or at Wynchylsee,2
At Brystow,8 or where that hit bee,

Theyr hertes begyn to fayle.

5 Anone the mastyr commaundeth fast

To hys shypmen, in alle the hast,4
To dresse5 hem sone about the mast,

Theyr takelyng to make ;

With ' Howe ! hissa ! ’ then they cry ;
io * What, howe 1 mate, thow stondyst to 6 ny„

Thy felow may nat hale 7 the 8 by ’ ;

Thus they begyn to crake.9

A boy or tweyn anone upstyen,10
And overthwart the sayle-yerde lyen.

15 ' Y how ! taylia ! ’ the remenaunt cryen,

And pulle with alle theyr myght.

' Bestowe 11 the boote,12 boteswayne, anon,

That our pylgryms may pley theron ;

For som ar lyke to cowgh and grone
20 Or18 hit be full mydnyght.’

' Hale the bowelyne 14 ! now, vere the shete ! —
Cooke, make redy anoon our mete ! ’

' Our pylgryms have no lust to ete,

I pray God yeve hem rest.’

25 ' Go to the helm ! what, howe ! no nere 15 ! ’ —

' Steward, felow, a pot of bere ! ’

* Ye shalle have, sir, with good chere,

Anon alle of the best.’

1 north of Dover 7 haul

2 southwest of Dover, in Sussex 8 thee

8 Bristol 9 call aloud

4 all haste 10 climb

6 make ready 11 stow

8 too 12 boat

13 ere

H a rope made fast to the mid¬
dle part of the outside of
a sail

15 nearer (no closer to the
wind ?)

A PILGRIMAGE TO COMPOSTELLA

263

' Y howe ! trussa ! hale in the brayles 1 !

Thow halyst nat, be God, thow fayles ! ’ —

' O se howe welle owre good shyp sayles I ’

And thus they say among.

' Hale in the wartake 2 * ! ’ ' Hit shal be done.’ — 5

' Steward, cover the boorde anone,*

And set bred and salt therone,

And tary nat to long ! ’

Then cometh oone and seyth : ' Be mery,

Ye shall have a storme or a pery.8 ’ 10

' Holde thow thy pese ! thow canst no whery,4
Thow medlyst wondyr sore.’

Thys menewhyle5 the pylgryms ly,

And have theyr bowlys fast theym by,

And cry aftyr hote malvesy6: 15

' Thow helpe for to restore.’

And som wold have a saltyd tost,7

Ffor they myght ete neyther sode 8 ne rost ;

A man myght sone pay for theyr cost,

As for 00 day or twayne. 20

Som layde theyr bookys on theyr kne,

And rad 9 so long they myght nat se.

' Allas, myne hede wolle cleve on thre ! ’

Thus seyth another certayne.

Then commeth owre owner, lyke a lorde, 25

And speketh many a royall worde,

And dresseth hym to the hygh borde,

To see alle thyng be welle.

Anone he calleth a carpentere,

And byddyth hym bryng with hym hys gere,10 30

1 small ropes fastened to the 4 (?)

edges of sails 6 in the meantime

2 (?) 6 malmsey

8 squall 7 toast

8 anything boiled

9 read
10 tools

264

STORIES OF TRAVEL

1 slightly built

To make the cabans here and there,

With many a febylle 1 celle.

A sak of strawe were there ryght good,
Ffor som must lyg2 theym in theyr hood •
I had 4s lefe be in the wood,

Without[e] mete or drynk.

For when that we shall go to bedde,

The pumpe is 3 nygh oure beddes hede ;

A man were as good be 4 dede
As smell therof the stynk.

2 lie

8 MS. was

4 MS. to be

RELIGIOUS AND DIDACTIC PIECES

ROLLE, THE FORM OF PERFECT LIVING

Richard Rolle, who was born near the end of the thirteenth century (the
year is not known) at Thornton Dale, near Pickering in northern Yorkshire,
was a hermit and mystic who wrote the first original [since the Ancren Riwle
is translated] English prose after the Conquest (Jusserand, Lit. Hist. Eng. People
I. 218). In his early youth he was sent as a student to Oxford, but was repelled
by the scholastic philosophy there dominant, and made up his mind to turn to
a life of contemplation. For the next four years he lived in a solitary cell on
the estate of friends who provided him with the necessaries of life, and there
he passed through three stages of the contemplative life — purification illumi¬
nation and contemplatio proper (cf. H. O. Taylor, The Mediceval Mind 2. 362 ff.) ,
in the last of which he had the mystic sense of the direct vision of God. After
traveling about for some time, in the hope of teaching his faith, as to which
he met with little encouragement and considerable opposition, he settled near
the recluse Margaret Kirkby at Ainderby, near Northallerton (famous for the
Battle of the Standard), also in the North Riding, where he gave assistance
and instruction to her and other recluses. Later he lived and wrote at Hampole,
five miles northwest of Doncaster, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, where
he died in 1349, and whence he has come to be known as Richard Rolle of
Hampole.

Rolle was a figure apparently but little heeded by the authorities of his own
time, yet one of real significance. In his emphasis on the direct relation be¬
tween the individual soul and God, rather than on mere obedience to the
Church, he was a forerunner of Wycliffe and Luther; and through the fervor
of his mystical outpourings, he still makes a strong emotional appeal.

His works, which it is hard in some cases to distinguish from those of his
imitators and translators, were sometimes written in Latin and sometimes in
English, one of the best known of those in English being a long poem, The
Prick of Conscience. His editor Horstman says of him : ' His chief character¬
istic as a writer is originality — he is essentially a genius; everywhere he cuts
out new ways, lays new foundations. Next, he is preeminently a lyric ; whether
he writes in prose or verse, he writes from feeling, from momentary inspiration.
Besides, he is of a remarkable versatility and facility ; he writes with equal
ease in Latin and English, in verse and prose, and in all kinds of verse, fre¬
quently mixing prose and verse in the same work ; he writes postils, commen¬
taries, epistles, satires, polemic treatises, prayers and devotions, lyric and
didactic poetry, epigrams ’ (2. xxxv). Our selections are from his epistle known

265

266

RELIGIOUS AND DIDACTIC PIECES

as The Form of Perfect Living , as it appears in MS. Cambr. Dd. V. 64, where
it is dedicated to the recluse Margaret. For this text, and for an extended
account of Richard Rolle and his place in the history of mysticism, see Richard
Rolleof Ilampole , ed. C. Horstman, London, 1895, in Yorkshire Writers ( Library
of Fiai'ly English Writers). Our selections are from Vol. 1, pp. 29-30, 46-9.

THE LOVE OF GOD

Amore langueo. J?ir 1 twa wordes er2 wryten in pe boke of lufe,
pat es kalled pe Sang of Lufe, or pe Sang of Sanges. For he pat mykel3
lufes, hym lyst 4 oft syng of his luf, for joy pat he or scho hase when
pai thynk on J>at pat pai lufe, namely 5 if pair lover be trew and lufand.
5 And pis es pe Inglisch of thies twa wordes : ' I languysch for lufe.’
Sere 6 men in erth has sere gyftes and graces of God, bot pe special
gift of pas pat ledes solitary lyf es for to lufe Jesu Criste. jlow says
me: 'All men lufes hym pat haldes 7 his comawndementes.’ Soth it
es. Bot all men pat kepes hys byddyngs kepes noght also hys cown-
10 sayle. And all pat dos his cownsell er noght also fulfyld of 8 pe swet-
nes of his lufe, ne feles noght pe fyre of bymand luf of hert. Forpi pe
diversite of lufe makes pe diversite of halynes and of mede.9 In heven,
pe awngels pat er byrnandest in lufe er nerrest God. Also men and
women pat maste 10 has of Goddes lufe, whether pai do penance or
15 nane, pai sail be in pe heghest degre in heven ; pai pat lufes hym lesse,
in pe lawer order. If pou lufe hym mykel, mykel joy and swetnes and
byrnyng pou feles in his lufe, pat es pi comforth and streng[t]h nyght
and day. If pi lufe be not byrnand in hym, litel es pi delyte. For hym
may na man fele in joy and swetnes, bot-if 11 pai be clene, and fylled
20 with his lufe ; and partill 12 sal pou com with grete travayle in praier
and thynkyng, havand swilk meditacions pat er al in pe lufe and in
pe lovyng of God. And when pou ert at pi mete, love ay God in pi
thoght at ilk a 13 morsel, and say pus in pi hert : ' Loved be pou, Keyng,
and thanked be pou, Keyng, and blyssed be pou, Keyng, Jesu all my
25 joyng, of all pi giftes gude ; pat for me spylt pi blude, and died on pe

1 these ; cf. Cant. 2. 5 6 diverse 11 unless

2 are 1 keeps 12 to this condition, thereto

3 much, greatly 8 filled with 13 every

4 he desires 9 reward

8 especially 1° most

ROLLE, THE FORM OF PERFECT LIVING 2 67

rude ; }>ou gyf me grace to syng be sang of )u lovyng.’ And thynk it
noght anely 1 whils )>ou etes, bot bath before and after, ay bot when 2 3
f>ou prayes or spekes. Or if )>ou have other thoghtes pat bou has 8
mare swetnes in and devocion ban in base ]>at I lere 4 |>e, ]>ou may thynk
[bam]. For I hope bat God will do swilk5 thoghtes in ]>i hert als he 5
es payde of,6 and als bou ert ordaynde for. When bou prayes, loke
noght how mykel }>ou says, bot how wele, ]>at be lofe of ]>i hert be ay
upwarde, and thy thoght on |>at bou sayes, als mykel als ]>ow may. If
]’ou be in prayers and meditacions al ]>e day, I wate 7 wele bat ]>ou mon
wax8 gretely in be lufe of Jesu Cryste, and mikel fele of delyte, and 10
within schort tyme.

THE ACTIVE AND THE CONTEMPLATIVE LIFE

Twa lyves bar er bat Cristen men lyfes. Ane es called actyve lyfe,
for it es in mare 9 bodili warke. Another, contemplatyve lyfe, for it
es in mare swetnes gastely.10 Actife lyfe es mykel owteward, and in
mare travel 11 and in mare peryle, for be temptacions bat er in be worlde. 15
Contemplatyfe lyfe es mykel inwarde, and for]>i 12 it es lastandar,13 and
sykerar,14 restfuller, delitabiler,15 luflyer, and mare medeful.10 For it
hase joy in Goddes lufe, and savowre in be lyf bat lastes ay, in |ns
present tyme, if it be right ledde. And bat felyng of joy in be lufe of
Jesu passes al other merites in erth. For it es swa harde to com to 20
for be freelte of oure flesch, and be many temptacions )>at we er urn-
sett 17 with, bat lettes 18 us nyght and day. Al other thynges er lyght
at 19 com to, in regarde barof , for bat may na man deserve, bot anely
it es gifen of Goddes godenes, til )>am bat verrayli gifes bam to
contemplacion and til quiete for Cristes luf. 25

Til men or wymen ]>at takes20 bam til actife lyfe, twa thynges
falles.21 Ane, for to ordayne )>air meyne 22 in drede and in ]>e lufe of

1 only

2 always except when

3 findest

4 teach

5 put such

6 satisfied with

7 know

8 must increase

8 more
i° spiritually
11 labor, toil
42 therefore
13 more lasting
44 more full of security

15 more delightful

16 full of reward

17 set about, surrounded
1® hinder

19 easy to

20 betake

21 are appointed

22 household

268

RELIGIOUS AND DIDACTIC PIECES

God, and fynd ]>am }>aire necessaries, and pamself kepe enterely pe
comandementcs of God, doand 1 til par neghbur als pai wil pat pai
do til pam. Another es : pat pai do at par power pe seven werkes of
mercy, pe whilk es : to fede pe hungry ; to gyf pe thristi a drynk ; to
S cleth pe naked ; to herbar hym pat hase na howsyng ; to viset pe
seke ; to comforth fam pat er in prysoun ; and to grave 2 dede men.
A1 Rat mai, and hase 3 cost,4 5 ]>ai may noght be qwyt3 with ane or
twa of pir, hot pam behoves do fam al, if pai wil have Re benyson 6
on Domesday7 pat Jesu sal til 8 al gyf pat dose pam. Or els may pai
io drede pe malysoun9 pat al mon 10 have pat will noght do pam, when
pai had godes 11 to do pam wyth.

Contemplatife lyf hase twa partyes,12 a lower and a heer. pe lower
party es meditacion of haly wrytyng, pat es Goddes wordes, and in
other gude thoghtes and swete pat men hase, of pe grace of God, abowt
15 pe lufe of Jesu Criste, and also in lovyng of God in psalmes and
ympnes,18 or in prayers, pe hegher party of contemplacion es behald-
yng and jernyng of 14 pe thynges of heven, and joy in pe Haly Gaste.
pat men hase oft, and 18 if it be swa pat pai be noght prayand with pe
mowth, bot anely thynkand of God, and of pe fairehede 16 of aungels
20 and haly sawles.17 pan may I say pat contemplacion es a wonderful
joy of Goddes luf, pe whilk 18 joy es lovyng of God, pat may noght be
talde ; and pat wonderful lovyng es in pe saule, and for abundance of
joy and swettenes it ascendes in til pe mouth, swa pat pe hert and pe
tonge acordes in ane,19 and body and sawle joyes in God lyvand.20
25 A man or woman pat es ordaynd til contemplatife lyfe, first God
enspires pam to forsake pis worlde, and al pe vanite and pe covayties
and pe vile luste parof. Sythen 21 he ledes pam by par ane,22 and
spekes til pair 23 hert, and, als pe prophete says, he gifes pam at sowke 24
pe swetnes of pe begynnyng of lufe, and pan he settes pam in will 23

1 doing

2 bury

8 MS. hase and mai (era. H.)

4 money sufficient

5 quit, released

6 blessing

7 Day of Judgment

8 to

9 malediction

10 must

11 goods

12 parts, phases
18 hymns

o for
1® even

16 fairness, beauty
77 souls
18 which

19 agree

20 living

21 afterwards

22 by themselves, alone
28 MS. £ar

24 to suck

25 makes them desire

THE ANCREN RIWLE

269

to gyf t,am haly 1 to prayers and meditacions and teres. Sithen,
when )>ai have sufferd many temptacions, and [|>e] 2 foule noyes 8 of
thoghtes f>at er ydel, and of vanitees ]>e whilk wil comber ]>am ]>at can
noght destroy )>am, er passand away, he gars ]>am 4 geder5 til \>am
hair hert, and fest 6 anely in hym, and opens til |>e egh 7 of ]>air sawls 5
f»e jates of heven, swa hat )>e ilk 8 egh lokes in til heven ; and han |)e
fire of lufe verrali ligges9 in }>air hert, and byrnes harin, and makes
[it] clene of al erthly filth ; and sithen forward 10 ]>ai er contemplatife
men, and ravyst11 in lufe. For contemplacion es a syght, and J>ai se
in til heven with ]>ar gastly egh. Bot hou sal witt12 hat na man hase 10
perfite syght of heven whils hai er lifand bodili here ; bot als sone als
hai dye hai er broght before God, and sese hym face til face, and egh
til egh, and wones 13 with hym withouten ende. For hym hai soght,
and hym hai covayted, and hym hai lufed, in al f>ar myght.

Loo, Margarete, I have schortly sayde he14 he forme of lyvyng, and 15
how hou may com til perfection, and to lufe hym hat hou hase taken
he til. If it do he gude, and profit til he, thank God, and pray for me.
pe grace of Jesu Criste be with he, and kepe he. Amen.

THE ANCREN RIWLE

The Ancren Riwle (Regultz Inclusanim ) was written for the guidance of
three sisters of gentle blood who had given themselves up to a religious life,
without having at that time become nuns. It exists in three languages —
French, English, and Latin — the English having been translated from French,
and the Latin from English (G. C. Macaulay, in Mod. Lang. Rev. 9. 63 ff.).

The author has been thus characterized : ' His doctrine may be summed
up in a word : he teaches self-renunciation. But he does it in so kindly and
affectionate a tone that the life he wishes his penitents to submit to does not
seem too bitter ; his voice is so sweet that the existence he describes seems
almost sweet’ (Jusserand, Lit. Hist. Eng. People 1. 212). His 'work betokens
much learning, great knowledge of the human heart, as well as deep piety,

1 wholly 6 fix 11 ravished, rapt

2 em. H. ' eyes 12 know

8 annoyances, troubles 8 same 13 dwell

4 causes them 9 lies 14 to thee

® gather, collect 10 from that time on

15. Margarete : probably Dame Margaret Kyrkby, an anchoress for whom
he felt a holy affection.

270

RELIGIOUS AND DIDACTIC PIECES

and a refined and gentle spirit’ (Ten Brink, Early Eng. Lit. I. 200). Ten Brink
also refers {ibid. 21. 16) to 'that aroma, that tinge of poetry, which breathes
throughout the language of the Ancren Kiwle,’ to which, as well as to the
author’s deep spirituality, the work owes its unusual appeal.

Judging from its language, the Ancren Rtwle was written in the early thir¬
teenth century. The best text is contained in a Cambridge manuscript desig¬
nated by Macaulay as B {Mod. Lang. Rev. 9. 145)- Our selections are taken
from Morton’s text {The Ancren Riwle, London, 1853), in which MS. Brit.
Mus. Cotton Nero A. XIV is reproduced; the pages are 50-2, 72, 132-4,
388-90, 416-22, 422-4. The dialect is southwestern. Morton’s translation is
published in The King’s Classics as The Nun's Rule.

ANCHORESSES NOT TO LOOK OUT UPON THE WORLD

Vorsin,1 mine leove 2 sustren,3 ]’e leste )>aet je ever muwen luvieb
our juries 4 ; al beon heo lutle,5 J>e parluris 6 lest 7 and nerewest. pe
cloS in ham beo 8 tvvovold : blac clo8 ; J>e creoiz 9 hwit, wrSinnen and
wiSuten. pe blake cloS bitockneS J>aet je beoS blake and unwurSe 10
5 toward 11 pe worlde wiSuten ; paet te so'Se sunne, paet is Jesu Crist,
haveS 12 wiSuten vorkuled 13 ou ; and so wiSuten, ase je beoS, unseau-
liche imaked ou14 purh gleames13 of his grace, pet hwite creoiz
limpeS 16 to ou ; vor }>reo manere 17 creoices beoS — reade and blake
and hwite. pe reade limpeS to J>eo paet beoh, vor Godes luve, mid
to hore 18 blodshedunge irudded 19 and ireaded,19 ase |>e martirs weren. pe
blake creoiz limpeS to ]>eo20 paet makieS i he21 worlde hore penitence vor
lodliche 22 sunnen.23 pe hwite creoiz limpeS to hwit meidenhod and
to clennesse,24 paet is muchel pine 25 wel vor to holden.26 Pine is overal 27
purh creoiz idon to understonden.28 pus bitockneS hwit croiz pe ward 29

1 wherefore

2 dear

8 sisters

4 love your windows the

least that ye ever may

5 and let them all be small

6 those of the parlor

" smallest

8 let it be

9 cross

1° of no value

11 in the sight of

12 has

48 discolored

14 and so has made you exter¬

nally as you are, uncomely

15 rays

48 belongs, appertains

17 three kinds

18 their

19 reddened

20 those

24 in the

22 foul, loathsome

23 sins

24 purity

25 difficulty, pains

26 preserve

27 everywhere

28 given to understand =

to be understood

29 keeping

1. leste . . . luvieh: properly, according to the French {Mod, Lang. Rey,
9. 65), 'the best that you ever can guard,’ etc.

THE ANCREN RIWLE

27 1

of hwit chastite, paet is muchel pine wel vor to witene.1 pe blake
clo« also tekeSe 2 bitocnunge,3 de5 4 lesse eile 6 to pen eien, and is
piccure agein pe wind, and wurse to purhseon,6 and halt7 his heou 8
betere vor winde and for ofter hwat.9 LokeS past te 10 parlurs beon
ever veste11 on everiche halve,12 and eke wel istekene13; and wite‘514 per 5
our 10 eien, leste pe heorte etfleo 16 and wende ut, ase of David,17 and
oure soule secli 18 so sone heo is ute. Ich write muchel vor o8re, paet
noting ne etrine'S ou,19 mine leove sustren, vor nabbe ge 20 nout pene
nome,21 ne ne schulen habben, purh ]>e grace of Code, of totinde 22
ancres,23 ne of tollinde lokunges 24 ne lates,25 past summe, o8er hwules,26 ic
weilawei ! unkundeliche 27 makie8 ; vor agein kunde 28 hit is, and un-
me‘5 29 sullic 30 wunder, past te deade totie,31 and mid cwike worldes
men 82 wede,33 wi5 sunne.

' Me84 leove sire,’ sei'S sum inouh rea8e,88 'and is hit nu so overuvel36
vor te 37 toten utward ? ’ ^e hit, leove suster, vor uvel paet ter 38 kumeS 15
of hit, is uvel over uvel 39 to everich ancre, and nomeliche 40 to pe gunge,
and to pen old vorftui 41 past heo to pe gunge give8 uvel vorbisne,42 and
scheld43 to werien ham mide.44 Vor, gif ei45 etwit46 ham, peonne sig-
ge'8 heo anon riht 47 : ' Me sire, peo de8 also peo 48 is betere pen Ich
am, and wot betere pen Ich wot hwat heo have8 to donne.’ O leove 20
gunge ancren, ofte a ful hawur 49 smiS smeoftiS 50 a ful woe 81 knif , and
te wise ouh 62 to volewen wisdom, and nout folie, and an olde ancre
mei don wel paet tu 53 dest uvele. Auh 54 toten ut wifiuten uvel ne mei

1 guard

2 teaches

3 symbol, emblem

4 does

5 ill

6 see through

7 holds, keeps

8 hue, color

9 anything else

10 the

11 fast
42 side

13 shut

14 guard

15 your

16 fly out, escape
47 like David’s
is become sick

49 for nothing [of this] applies to
20 ye have not
24 the name
22 peering
28 anchoresses

24 enticing looks

25 manners, gestures

26 at times

24 inconsistently
28 against nature
20 exceedingly
311 strange ; MS. swuc
34 should look out

32 living men of the world

33 wed

34 my

35 quickly enough
35 very evil

you 3" to

38 there

39 evil beyond evil

40 especially
44 because

42 example

43 a shield

44 defend themselves with

43 any one

46 reprove, chide

44 straightway

48 she does it also who

49 clever, skilful
69 forges

51 weak, poor

52 ought

53 thou
34 but

272

RELIGIOUS AND DIDACTIC PIECES

nouber of on ; and nim nu jeme 1 hwat uvel beo icumen of totinge :
nout on uvel ne two, auh al ]>e uvel and al pe wo pset nu is, and ever
gete was, and ever schal iwurben2 — al com of a sihbe. pet hit beo sob,
lo her |>e preove 3 : Lucifer, ]>urh pet he iseih and biheold on himsulf
5 his owene veirness, leop 4 into prude,5 and bicom of 6 engel atelich 7
deovel ; and of Eve, ure alre 8 moder, is iwriten on alre erest,9 in hire
neowe 10 injong 11 of hire eiesihbe : Vidit igitur mulier quod bonum
esset lignum ad vescendum , et pulchrum octdis, aspectuque delectabile , et
tulit de fructu ejus et comedit, deditque viro ,12 J>aet is : ' Eve biheold o 13
io )>en vorbodene eppele, and iseih hine 14 veir, and veng 18 to deliten i )>e
biholdunge, and turnde hire lust )?er toward, and nom 16 and et J>erof,
and gef hire loverd.’ Lo hu Holi Writ spekeb, and hu inwardliche 17
hit telleb hu sunegunge 18 bigon. J>us eode 19 sihbe bivoren, and makede
wei to 20 uvel lust ; and com I>e deab J>erefter, past al monkun iveleb.21
15 J>es eppel, leove sustren, bitocneb alle pe Jhng f>aet lust falleb 22 to, and
delit of sunne. Hwon }>u biholdest te mon, p u ert in Eve point 23 :
J>u lokest o J?en eppel.

THE BEAUTY OF SILENCE

Seneca seide : Ad summam \yolo ] vos esse rariloquos , tuncque pauci-
loquosi2i pset is f>e ende of ]>e tale, seib Seneke the wise : ' Ichulle 25
20 past je speken seide, and feonne buten lutel.’ Auh moni punt26 hire
word vor te leten mo ut, as me deb water et ter mulne cluse 27 ; and
so duden Jobes freond 28 paet weren icumen to vrovren 29 him : seten 30
stille alle seoveniht.81 Auh }>eo 82 [heo] hefden alles bigunne vor to
spekene, Jeone kuben heo nevere astunten 33 hore cleppe.34 Greg. :

1 take thou heed

2 come to pass

8 proof

4 leaped

6 pride

® instead of

” hateful, foul

8 of us all

9 first of all

40 fresh

11 beginning

I2 Gen. 3. 6

looked upon
it

began

took

showing the inward causes

sinning

went

for

feeleth
inclines
in Eve’s case
Not found

25 I will, desire

26 shut in, restrain
2<’ at the mill-dam

28 friends

29 comfort

80 they sat

81 for a full week

82 when

88 they never knew how
to stop
84 talking

THE ANCREN RIWLE

273

Censura silencii nutritura est verbi ; so hit is ine monie, ase Seint
Gregorie seift : ' Silence is wordes fostrild.1 ’ Juge silencium cogit celestia
meditari : ' Long silence, and wel iwust,2 3 nedeft 8 pe pouhtes up touward
per heovene.’ Also ase je muwen iseon pe water, hwon me punt hit,
and stopped 4 5 bivoren wel,0 so ]>et hit ne muwe 6 aduneward, peonne 5
is hit ined 7 ajein vor to climben upward. And je al pisses weis 8
pundeft 9 ower wordes, and forstoppeft 10 ouwer pouhtes, ase je wulleft
paet heo climben and hien touward heovene, and nout ne vallen adune¬
ward, and to vleoten 11 jeond 12 te world, ase deft muchel cheafle.13 Auh
hwon je nede moten 14 speken a lutewiht,13 leseft up 16 ower muftes 10
flodjeten,17 ase me deft et ter 18 mulne, and leted 19 adun sone.

THE HAPPINESS OF ANCHORESSES IS LIKE THAT OF
THE BIRDS OF HEAVEN

Auh God cleopeft 20 pe gode ancren briddes of heovene, ase Ich
er 21 seide : Vulpes foveas ha bent , et volucres celi nidos 22 : ' Voxes hab-
beft hore holes, and briddes of heovene hore nestes.’ Treowe ancren
beoft ariht28 briddes of heovene pet fleoft an heih, ant sitteft singinde 15
murie 24 o fte 25 grene bowes ; |>et is, )>encheft 26 upp, and of pe blisse of
heovene, pet never ne valeweft,27 auh is ever grene, and sitteft o pisse
grene, singinde swufte 28 murie ; pet is, resteft ham inne swuche pouhte,
and habbeft muruhfte of heorte, ase peo pet singeft. Brid pauh,29 ofter
hwule,80 vor te sechen 81 his mete 82 vor pe vlesches neode, lihteft adun 20
to per eorfte ; auh peo hwule pet 33 hit sit o per eorfte, nis hit never
siker, auh biwent 84 him ofte, and bilokeft 85 him ever jeorneliche 36 al
abuten. Alriht 87 so, pe gode ancre, ne vleo heo 38 never so heie, heo

1 foster-mother, nurse

2 kept

3 compels

4 stop, check (it)

5 spring

6 cannot (flow)

” forced, compelled

3 in this way

9 do ye check (imperative)

10 restrain

n float

12 through

13 idle talk

14 needs must

15 little

16 open up

1' the floodgates of your mouth
1® at the
19 let them
23 calleth

21 before

22 Matt. 8.20

23 indeed

24 merrily

25 on the

26 meditate

2 7 fadeth

28 very

29 a bird, however

30 sometimes
84 seek

82 food

33 the while that, while

34 turns

35 looks

86 carefully, cautiously

37 just

38 although she fly

274

RELIGIOUS AND DIDACTIC PIECES

mot lihten o5er hwules adun to per eorfte of hire bodie, eten, drinken,
slepen, wurchen, speken, iheren (of pet neodeti to),1 of eorhliche
pinges. Auh peonne, as pe brid deS, heo mot wel biseon hire,2 * and
biholden hire on ilchere half,8 pet heo nouhwar ne misnime,4 * leste
S heo beo ikeiht 6 puruh summe of pe deofles gronen,6 otier ihurt
summes weis, pe hwule paet heo sit so lowe.

THE KINGLY WOOER

A lefdi was7 pet was mid hire voan8 biset al abuten, and hire lond
al destrued, and heo al poure, witunnen one eorSene castle. On 9
mihti kinges luve was, pauh,10 biturnd upon hire, so unimete 11 swufte
io pet he vor wouhlecchunge 12 sende hire his sonden,13 on efter o<5er, and
ofte somed monie,14 and sende hire beaubelet 15 boSe veole 16 and feire,
and sukurs 17 of livene'S,18 and help of his heie hird 19 to holden hire
castel. Heo underveng 20 al ase on unrecheleas ping,21 pet was so
herd iheorted pet hire luve ne mihte he never beon pe neorre. Hwat
15 wult tu more? He com himsulf a22 last, and scheawede hire his
feire neb,28 ase pe 24 pet was of alle men veirest to biholden, and spec 25
swuSe sweteliche and so murie wordes pet heo 26 muhten pe deade
arearen27 vrom deaSe to live, and wrouhte veole wundres, and dude
veole meistries 23 bivoren hire eihsihfte, and scheawede hire his mihten ;
20 tolde hire of his kinedome, and bead 29 for to makien hire cwene of
al pet he ouhte.30 Al pis ne help nout. Nes81 pis wunderlich hoker82?
Vor heo nes never wurSe vor te beon his schelchine.83 Auh so, puruh
his debonerte,34 luve hefde overkumen hine pet he seide on ende 35 :
' Dame, pu ert iweorred,36 and pine von 37 beo'5 so stronge pet tu ne

1 so far as is necessary

2 look about her

8 on every side

4 make a mistake

6 caught

8 snares

" there was

8 foes

9 a

10 however

11 boundlessly

12 for wooing, to woo her

58 messengers

14 many together
16 jewels (baubles)

16 many
help, aid

18 food

19 army

20 received

21 a heedless creature

22 at

28 face, countenance
24 he
26 spoke
28 they

2‘ arouse

28 brave deeds

29 offered

80 owned, possessed

81 is not

82 contempt, disdain
88 slave, scullion

84 graciousness, kindness
88 finally

86 attacked, warred against
8" foes

THE ANCREN RIVVLE

275

meiht nones weis,1 wiSuten sukurs of me, etfleon2 hore honden, pet
heo ne don pe to scheomefule dea<5. Ich chulle,8 vor pe luve of pe,
nimen pis fiht upon me, and aredden 4 pe of ham pet secheft5 pine
deaS. Ich wot, pauh, forscSe, pet Ich schal bitweonen6 ham under-
vongen 7 deaSes wunde, and Ich hit wulle heorteliche vor to ofgon 8
pine heorte. Nu, peonne, biseche Ich pe, vor pe luve pet Ich kufte
pe,9 pet tu luvie me, hure and hure 10 efter pen ilke deaSe,11 hwon pu
noldes lives.1'2 ’ }?es king dude al pus — aredde hire of alle hire von,
and was himsulf to wundre 13 ituked,14 and isleien on ende.15 puruh
miracle, pauh, he aros from deabe to live. Nere1(i peos ilke lefdi of
uvele kunnes kunde,17 jif heo over alle ping18 ne luve him herefter?

]?es king is Jesu Crist, Codes Sune, pet al o pisse wise 19 wowude 20
ure soule, pet pe deoflen heveden biset. And he, ase noble woware,
efter monie messagers and feole 21 god deden, com vor to preoven his
luve, and scheawede puruh knihtschipe 22 pet he was luve-wurbe,28 ase
weren sumewhule 24 knihtes iwuned 25 for to donne. He dude him
ine 26 turnement, and hefde, vor his leofmonnes 27 luve, his schelde ine
vihte,28 ase kene kniht, on everiche half ipurled.29

THE ANCHORESS’ CAT, HER CLOTHING AND
OCCUPATIONS

^e, mine leove sustren, ne schulen habben no best 80 bute kat one.81
Ancre pet haveb eihte 82 punched 83 bet 34 husewif, ase Marthe was, pen
ancre ; ne none wise ne mei heo beon Marie,85 mid griSfulnesse 86 of
heorte. Vor peonne mot 87 heo penchen of pe kues 88 foddre, and of

1 in no way

2 escape from

3 will

4 deliver

5 seek; MS. schechetS

6 amongst
receive

8 deserve, win

9 show thee
1° at least

11 MS. dead deatSe

12 in life

13 wonderfully, grievously

14 maltreated, injured

15 finally

16 were not

it of a perverse sort of nature

18 above all things

19 in this manner

20 wooed

21 many

22 knightly prowess

23 worthy of love ; MS. -wurde

24 sometimes

25 wont

26 entered into

2~ sweetheart, lady

28 in the fight

29 pierced in all parts

30 beast, animal

31 except only a cat
82 cattle

33 seems

34 better

35 Mary
38 peace
3’ must
38 cow’s

2 y6

RELIGIOUS AND DIDACTIC PIECES

heordemonne huire,1 oluhnen 2 pene heiward,3 warien 4 5 hwon me punt
hire,6 and gelden, pauh, pe hermes.6 Wat Crist,7 pis is lodlich ping
hwon me makeS mone 8 in tune of ancre eihte. }?auh, gif eni mot
nede habben ku, loke pet heo none monne ne eilie,9 ne ne hermie,10
5 ne pet hire pouht ne beo nout peron ivestned.11 Ancre ne ouh 12
nout to habben no ping pet drawe utward hire heorte. None cheffare 13
ne drive 14 ge. Ancre pet is cheapild,15 heo cheapeft 16 hire soule pe
chepmon 17 of helle. Ne wite 18 ge nout in oure 19 huse of ofter monnes
pinges, ne eihte, ne cloftes ; ne nout ne undervo 20 ge pe chirche vesti-
io menz, ne pene caliz,21 bute-gif 22 strencfte hit makie,23 ofter muchel eie,24
vor of swuche witunge 25 is ikumen muchel uvel oftesiften.26 Wiftinnen
ower woanes 27 ne lete ge nenne mon slepen. <^if muchel neode mid
alle 28 makeb breken 29 ower hus, pe hwule pet hit ever is ibroken, loke
pet ge habben perinne mid ou one wummon of clene live deies and
15 nihtes.30

Vorfti81 pet no mon ne isihft ou, ne ge iseoft nenne mon, wel mei
don of 32 ower cloftes, beon heo hwite, beon heo blake ; bute pet heo
beon unorne 33 and warme, and wel iwrouhte — velles34 wel itauwed,35
and habbeft ase rnonie ase ou toneodeft,36 to bedde and eke to rugge.37
20 Nexst fleshe ne schal mon werien no linene cloft, bute-gif hit beo
of herde88 and of greate heorden.89 Stamin40 habbe hwose wule, and
hwose wule mei beon buten.41 ^e schulen liggen in on heater,42 and
igurd.43 Ne bere44 ge non iren,45 ne here,40 ne irspiles47 felles ; ne ne

1 herdsman’s hire

2 flatter

8 hayward (keeper of the
hedges, who prevented
cattle from injuring pri¬
vate property)

4 defend herself

5 they shut it up

6 pay the damages, more¬

over

7 Christ knows

8 they make complaint

9 annoy

10 harm

11 fixed

12 ought

is traffic, business

14 carry on

15 trafficker

16 sells

l" to the bargainer

18 take charge

19 your

20 receive

21 chalice

22 unless

28 make necessary

24 fear

25 guarding, care-taking

26 ofttimes

27 dwelling

28 after all

29 to be used

30 by day and night

31 because

82 do with, be content with

38 plain
84 skins

35 tawed, dressed
38 you need

37 also for your back

38 hards, tow

89 coarse canvas

40 harsh rough cloth, used

for penitential shirts
(cf. F. etamine)

41 without

42 a garment

43 girt

44 wear

45 iron

46 haircloth

47 porcupines’

THE ANCREN RIWLE

277

beate ou permide,1 ne mid schurge 2 ileSered 3 ne ileaded,4 5 6 ne mid
holie,0 ne mid breres u ; ne ne biblodge hiresulf 7 wiSuten schriftes 8
leave; ne ne nime, et enes, to veole9 disceplines.10 Ower schone
beon11 greate and warme. Ine sumer ge habbe'S leave vor to gon
and sitten barvot, and 12 hosen wiSuten vaumpez,18 and ligge ine ham 5
hwoso likeS.14 . . . ^if ge muwen beon wimpelleas,13 beoft bi 16 warme
keppen 17 and peruppon blake veiles. Hwose wide beon iseien, pauh
heo atiffe 18 hire nis nout muchel wunder ; auh to Godes eien heo is
lufsumere, pet is, vor ]>e luve of him, untiffed wiSuten. Ring ne broche
nabbe ge, ne gurdel imenbred,19 ne gloven, ne no swuch ping pet ou 10
ne deih 20 for to habben.

Ever me is leovere so21 ge don gretture werkes. Ne makie none
purses, vor te vreonden ou mide,22 ne blodbendes 28 of seolke, auh ■
schepieS,24 and seouweS,25 and amende® 26 chirche clones, and poure
monne cloSes. No ping ne schule ge given wiSuten schriftes leave. 15
Helped mid ower owune swinke,27 so vor® so 28 ge muwen, to
schruden29 ou sulven and peo pet ou served, ase Seint Jerome lere®.80

THE ANCHORESS’ HEALTH

(7)e ne schulen senden lettres, ne undervon lettres, ne writen uten
leave, ^e schulen beon idodded 81 four si®en i tie gere, vor to lihten
ower heaved32; and ase ofte ileten blod,83 and oftere gif neod is; and 20
hwoso mei beon per wiSuten,34 Ich hit mei wel itiolien.86 Hwon ge beoti
ileten blod, ge ne schulen don no ping, peo preo dawes, pet ou greve,86
auh talke® mid ouer meidenes and mid peaufule 87 talen schurte® 88 ou

1 therewith

2 scourge

3 made of leather

4 leaded

5 holly

6 briars

7 let her not cause herself

to bleed

8 of the confessor

9 too many

lft flagellations

11 let your shoes be

12 and (to wear)

is vamps

14 whoever likes may lie in

them

15 without wimples

16 be provided with

17 capes
is adorn

19 linked

29 you ought not

21 I am always more pleased if

22 gain you friends with

23 bandages to stop bleeding

24 fashion

25 sew

20 mend

27 labor

28 so far as

29 clothe

80 teacheth

31 have your hair clipped

32 your head

33 have blood let

84 be able to be without this

35 suffer, permit

36 that may grieve you, be

disagreeable to you

37 edifying
88 divert

278

RELIGIOUS AND DIDACTIC PIECES

togederes. (^e muwen don so ofte hwon ou punched hevie,1 oSer beo?>
vor sume worldliche pinge sorie ofier seke. So wisliche witeS ou 1 in
our8 blodletunge, and holdeS ou ine swuche reste pet je longe )>er-
efter muwen ine Codes servise f>e monluker4 swinken, and also hwon
5 je iveleS eni secnesse; vor muchel sotschipe 6 hit is vor to vorleosen,B
vor one deie, tene oSer tweolve.

A TREATISE AGAINST MIRACLE-PLAYS

This tract, in the form of a sermon, was first printed by Halliwell (in Reliqaice
Antiques 2. 42 ff.) from a manuscript volume of sermons in the library of St.
Martin’s-in-the-Fields, London. This is now British Museum MS. Add. 24,202,
which is designated in the catalogue as ' Wycliffite Tracts in English.’ The
manuscript is described as a small folio, vellum, of the end of the fourteenth
century. Unless otherwise stated, the readings given below repose upon my
collation of this manuscript. As there is considerable variation in the orthog¬
raphy, I have sought to render it more consistent, especially in the endings.
Emendations marked ' M ’ are those of Matzner in his Altenglische Sprach-
proben ; the others are mine.

The following selections give the main argument of the tract, which is
headed : ' Mere bigynnis a tretise of miracUs-pleyinge.’ The outline which
follows may help to make the argument clear. Detailed notes can be found in
Matzner’s edition.

I. Introduction. Christ’s miracles were performed in earnest, and therefore ought not
to be represented in play.

1. Such representation takes away our fear of God, and, as a result, the strength of

our faith.

2. It contradicts the teaching of Christ.

3. It leads to scorn of God : the players make sport of his passion.

II. There are six arguments in favor of miracle-plays. Men say :

1. They are given for the sake of worship.

2. By them many are converted to a good life, seeing, as they do, the manifest work

of the devil.

3. Often the sight of Christ’s passion moves men to tears.

4. Some men may be drawn to religion through play, who would never be moved

by seriousness.

5. Men must have some recreation ; why not that of a good sort ?

6. We do not object to paintings of miracles ; why, then, to dramatic portrayals of

them ?

III. But there are answers to all these arguments :

1. The giving of such plays springs from heathenism, and is not worship. Worship

consists in doing the will of God.

1 you are in low spirits

2 guard yourselves

3 your

4 more vigorously

5 folly

6 lose

A TREATISE AGAINST MIRACLE-PLAYS 279

2. Though good may sometimes come of evil, this is not the rule. Miracle-plays

most often pervert those who see them.

3. If the spectators weep, it is purely from external causes, not from consciousness

of their own sin.

4. If men are ever converted by miracle-plays, it is only to show the grace of God.

But men are seldom converted by such means ; conversion comes from the
earnest working of God, not from playing.

5. Plays do not afford true recreation.

6. Good paintings merely exhibit truth, but plays are mainly to delight men’s bodily

senses.

IV. A friend declares :

1. That he will not abandon his interest in miracle-plays unless their sinfulness can

be proved directly from Holy Writ.

Answer : Such plays are against the spirit of the commandment, ' Thou shalt not
take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.’ (Illustration : One would not
represent in a play the death of one’s own father.)

2. That if the giving of such plays is sin, it is but a small sin.

Answer: Any sin, however small, is deadly sin.

Moreover, the danger in such playing is shown by the analogy of the following
stories, with their mediaeval allegorical interpretations :

a. Ishmael and Isaac (Gen. 21. S-io).

b. The children of Abner and those of Joab (2 Sam. 2. 12-32).

c. Moses and the children of Israel (Exod. 32).

d. Elisha (2 Kings 2.23-4).

e. Noah (as referred to in Matt. 24.38-9).

V. If we are to play, let us do so in the spirit of David (2 Sam. 6. 15-6, 20-2), (1) realiz¬
ing how God’s grace to us surpasses that to our neighbors ; (2) being always
devout before God, though misliked by the world; (3) being lowly in our own eyes.

Knowe gee, Cristen men, pat as Crist, God and man, is hope weye,
trewp, and lif,1 as seip pe gospel of Jon (weye to pe errynge, trewpe
to pe unknowyng and doutyng, lif to pe styynge 2 to hevene and
weryinge 3), so Crist dyde 4 nopinge to us but ef[f]ectuely in weye of
mercy, in treupe of ri[g]twesnes, and in lif of gildyng5 everlastynge 5
joye for oure continuely 6 mo[u]rnyng and sorwynge in ]>is valey of
teeres.7 J’e 8 myraclis, perfore, pat Crist dyde 4 heere in erpe, ouper
in 9 hymsilf ouper in hise seyntis, weren so ef[f]ectuel and in ernest
don,10 pat to synful men pat erren pei brougten forgyvenesse of synne,
settynge hem in pe weye of rigt bileve ; to doutouse 11 men not stede- 10
fast pei brougten in kunnyng 12 to betere plesen God, and verry hope

1 John 14. 6

2 those climbing upward

3 growing weary

* MS. dude

5 yielding

6 MS. continuiely

7 Ps. 84.6 (in the Latin)

8 MS. in (em. M.)

9 through

10 MS. done

11 doubting

12 ability

28o

RELIGIOUS AND DIDACTIC PIECES

in God to ben 1 stedefast in hym ; and to pe wery of pe weye of
God, for |>e grette penaunce and suffraunce of pe trybulac[i]oun pat
men moten 2 * han 8 perinne, pei brougten in love of brynnynge 4
charite, to pe whiche alle ping is ligt,5 and 6 were 7 he to suffren 8
S depe, pe whiche men most dreden, for pe everlastynge lyf and joye
pat men most loven and desiren 9 : of pe whiche ping verry hope
puttip awey alle werinesse heere in pe weye of God. panne, sypen 10
myraclis of Crist and of hyse seyntis weren pus effectuel, as by oure
bileve we ben in certeyn,11 no man shulde usen in bourde 12 and
io pley 13 pe myraclis and werkis pat Crist so emestfully 14 wrougte to oure
helpe16; for whoevere so do[i]p, he errip in pe byleve, reversip16 Crist,
and scornip17 God. He errip in pe bileve, for in pat he takip pe most
precious werkis of God in pley and bourde, he 18 takip his name in
idil,19 and so mysusip oure byleve. A, Lord ! sypen an erpely servaunt
i s dar not taken 20 in pley and in bourde pat pat his 21 erpely lord takip
in ernest, myche more we shulden not maken oure pley 13 and bourde
of po myraclis and werkis pat God so ernestfully wrougt[e] to us ;
for,22 sopely whan we so don,23 drede to synne 24 is taken 20 awey, as
a servaunt whan he bourdip 23 wip his mayster leesip 26 his drede to
20 offenden 27 hym, namely, whanne he bourdip wip his mayster in pat
pat 28 his mayster takip in ernest. . . .

panne, sypen pes myraclis-pleyeris taken in bourde pe ernestful
werkis of God, no doute pat pei ne 29 scomen God, as dyden 30 pe Jewis
pat bobbiden 81 Crist ; for pei lowen32 at his passioun, as pese lawgen88
25 and japen at34 pe myraclis of God. perfore, as pei scorniden85 Crist,
so pese 86 scorne[n] God ; and rigt 87 as Pharao, wroop 88 to do[n] pat

1 MS. been

2 must needs

8 MS. have

4 burning

6 easy

6 if

7 MS. omits were; M. he were

8 MS. suffere

9 MS. di-

10 since

11 assured

12 game, sport

18 MS. pleye

14 MS. emyst-

15 salvation

16 contradicts
47 MS. -y}>

18 MS. and so

19 vain

20 MS. -un

21 MS. her (em. M.)

22 MS. ffor
28 MS. done

24 of sinning

25 jests, makes merry

26 loses

27 MS. -yn

28 MS. in pat in pat

29 MS. ne pei
8(1 MS. diden

81 mocked, made sport of

82 laughed

88 MS. lowyn

84 MS. of

85 MS. -eden
80 MS. peese

37 just

38 hating

A TREATISE AGAINST MIRACLE-PLAYS

281

pat God bad hym, dispiside God,1 so pese- myraclis-pleyeris and
-mayntenours,2 leevynge plesingly8 to do[n] pat God biddip hem,
scornen God. He, forsope, hap beden us alle to halowen 4 * his name,
jyvyng drede and reverence in alle mynde3 of his werkis, wipoute
ony pleying[e] or japynge, as al holynesse is in ful ernest men ; panne, 5
pleyinge pe name of Goddis myraclis,6 as plesyngly pei leeve[n] to do[n]
pat God biddip hem, so pei scornen his name, and so scornen 7 hym.

But hereajenus 8 pei seyen [1] pat pei pleyen pese myraclis in pe
worschip of God, and so dyden not pese Jewis pat bobbiden Crist.
Also, [2] ofte sipis 9 by siche myraclis-pleyinge ben 10 men convertid 10
to gode lyvynge, as men and wymmen, seyng in myraclis-pleyinge
pat pe devul by per aray, by pe whiche pei moven eche on opere 11 to
leccherie and to pride, makip hem his servauntis to bryngen hemsilf
and many opere to helle, and to han 12 fer more vylenye herafter, by13
per proude aray heere, pan pei han worschipe heere ; and seynge,14 1 5
ferpermore, pat al pis worldly beyng heere is but vanite for a while —
as is myraclis-pleying[e] — pei 13 leeven per pride, and taken to hem
afterward pe meke conversac[i]oun of Crist and of hise seyntis, and
so myraclis-pleyinge turnip 16 men to pe bileve, and not pervertip.17
Also, [3] ofte sypis by siche myraclis-pleyinge men and wymmen, 20
seynge pe passioun of Crist and of hise seyntis, ben movyd to com¬
passion and devocion, wepynge bitere teris ; panne pei ben not scorn-
ynge of God, but worschipyng. Also, [4] profitable 18 to men and to
pe worschipe of God it is to fulfillen 19 and sechen alle pe menes by
pe whiche men mowen 20 fleen 21 synne, and drawen hem to vertues. 25
And sypen as22 per ben men pat on[e]ly by ernestful doynge wylen
be[n] convertid to God, so per ben 28 opere men pat wylen not be[n] con¬
vertid to God but by gamen and pley ; and now on dayes 24 men ben
not convertid by pe ernestful doyng of God ne of men, panne 23 now

1 Exod. 7. 13 ff.

2 those who defend and sup¬

port them

3 omitting for the sake of

pleasure

* MS. -yn

8 remembrance
8 MS. miraclis

7 MS. -yn

8 in opposition to this

9 ofttimes
1° are

11 each one the other

12 have

13 because of

11 MS. seeynge

15 MS. wherporu pie

16 MS. -ep

17 does not pervert them

18 MS. proph-

19 MS. -un

20 may

21 MS. seene ; M. fle

22 whereas

23 MS. been

24 nowadays
28 therefore

282

RELIGIOUS AND DIDACTIC PIECES

it is tyme and skilful1 to assayen to converten 2 pe puple by pley
and gamen — as by myraclis-pleyinge, and oper maner myrpis. Also,
[5] summe recreac[i]oun men moten8 han ; and bettere it is, or lesse
yvele, pat pei han peyre recreac[i]oun 4 by pleyinge of myraclis ]>an
S by pleyinge of oper[e] japis. Also, [6] sipen it is leveful 0 to han pe
myraclis of God peyntid, why is [it] not as wel leveful to han pe
myraclis of God pleyid,6 sypen men mowen bettere reden pe wille
of God, and his mervelous werkis, in pe pleyinge of hem fan in pe
peyntynge, and betere pei ben holden in men[n]us mynde, and oftere
10 rehersid, by pe pleyinge of hem fan by pe peyntynge, for pis is a deed
bok, pe toper a qu[i]ck 7 ?

To pe first reson we answeren,8 seying [1] pat siche myraclis-
pleyinge is not to pe worschipe of God, for pei ben don more to ben
seen of pe worlde, and to plesen 9 to pe world, panne to ben seen of
15 God, or to plesen9 to hym. As Crist never ensaumplide hem,10 but
onely hepene men, pat everemore dishonouren God, seyinge pat to pe
worschipe of God pat is to pe most veleynyd11 of hym ; perfore, as pe
wickidnesse of pe misbileve of hepene men lyip to hemsilf 12 whanne
pei seyn pat pe wors[c]hipyng of peire maumetrie 13 is to pe worschipe
20 of God, so mennus 14 lec[c]herye now on dayes, to han per owne lustus.
liip 15 to hemsilf whanne pei seyn pat siche 16 miraclis 17-pleying[e] is to
pe worschip of God. . . .

[2] pe same wise,18 myraclis-pleyinge, albeit pat it be synne, is
operewhile 19 occasion of convertyng of men ; but as it is synne, it is
25 fer more occasion of pervertyng of men, not onely of oon synguler20
persone, but of al an hool comynte,21 as it makip al a puple to ben
ocupied in veyn ajenus pis heeste 22 of pe Psauter Book, pat seip to
alle men, and namely to pristis, pat eche day reden it in per servyse :
' Tume awey myn eyen pat pei se[n] not vanytees 28 ’ ; and efte24:

1 reasonable

2 MS. -yn
8 must

4 em. M.

5 permissible

6 MS. -ed

7 living

8 MS. -yng (em. M.)

8 MS. -yn

40 taught their use by example

11 degradation

12 deceive themselves; MS. pemsilf
48 idols

44 men’s
48 MS. lie)-*

18 MS. suche

47 MS. -es

48 in the same manner

49 sometimes
20 single

24 community
22 command
28 Ps. 1 19. 37
24 again

A TREATISE AGAINST MIRACLE-PLAYS 283

' Lord, ]Jou hatist 1 alle waytynge vanytees.2 ’ How panne may a
prist pleyn in entirludies,8 or jyve hymsilf to pe sijt of hem ? . . .

Myraclis-pleyinge, sypen it is ajenus pe heest of God, pat biddip pat
pou shalt not take[n] Goddis name in ydil, it is agenus oure bileve,
and so it may not jyven occasioun 4 of turnynge men to pe bileve, 5
but of pervertyng ; and perfore many men wenen 6 pat per is no helle
of everelastynge peyne, but ]>at God do[i]p but6 preten7 us, and not
to do[n] it in dede — as is 8 pleyinge of myraclis9 in sygne,10 and
not in dede. . . .

A prist of pe Newe Testament, pat is passid pe tyme of childehod, 10
and pat not onely shulde kepe[n] chastite, but alle opere vertues, ne 11
onely mynystren pe sacrament of matrimonye, but alle opere sacra-
mentis, and, namely,12 sypen hym owip 18 to mynystre[n] to alle pe
puple pe precious body of Crist, awgte14 to abstene[n] bym fro al
ydil pleying[e], bope of myraclys and ellis.16 ... 15

]?es men pat seyen, ' Pley[e] we a pley of Anticrist and of pe Day
of Dome, pat sum man may be convertid perby,’ fallen into pe herisie
of hem pat, reversyng pe Aposteyl, seyden : ' Do we yvel pingis, pat per
comen 16 gode pingis ’■ — 'of whom,’ as seip pe Aposteyl,17 ' dampnyng
is rijtwise.18 ’ 20

By pis we answeren to pe pridde 19 resoun, seyinge [3] pat siche
myraclis-pleyinge £yvip 20 noon occasioun of verrey 21 wepynge and
medeful 22 ; but pe wepyng pat fallip 23 to men and wymmen by pe
sigte of siche myraclis-pleyinge, as it is 24 not principaly for peire
owne 25 synnes, ne of peire gode feip wipinneforp,26 but more of peire 25
sigt wipouteforp, is not alowable byfore God, but more reprovable 27 ;
for28 sypen Crist hymsilf reprovyde pe wymmen pat wepten upon
hym in his passioun, myche more pei ben reprovable pat wepen for

1 MS. hatistde ; M. hatid-

est

2 Ps. 31.6 (Vulg.)

8 interludes, plays ; MS.

entirlodies
4 MS. -cioun
6 believe

6 merely

7 MS. freti}>

8 MS. ben

9 MS. mir-

10 symbolic
U nor

12 especially
18 he ought

14 ought

15 other things

16 MS. -yn

17 MS. gospel (blurred) aposteyl

18 Rom. 3. 8

19 third

20 MS. -ej?

21 true, sincere ; MS. werrey

22 profitable
28 befalls

24 MS. fei ben
28 MS. oune
26 inwardly; MS. -for)?e
2" MS. reprowable
28 MS. ffor

284

RELIGIOUS AND DIDACTIC PIECES

pe pley of Cristis passioun, leevynge to wepen 1 for pe synnes of hemsilf
and of peire chyldren, as Crist bad pe wymmen pat wepten on hym.2

And by }>is we answeren to pe furpe resoun, seyinge [4] pat no
man may be convertid to God but onely by pe ernestful doinge3 of
5 God, and by noon veyn pleying[e] ; for pat pat 4 pe word of God
worchip not, ne his sacramentis, how shulde pleyinge worchen, pat is
of no vertue, but ful of defaute ? . . . J?e wepyng pat men wepen ofte
in siche pley, comunely is fals, witnessinge 6 pat pei loven 6 more pe
lykyng7 of peire body, and of prosperite of pe world, pan lykynge
10 of8 God, and prosperite of vertu[e] in pe soule ; and, perfore, hav-
yng more compassion of peyne pan of synne, pei falsly wepen9 for
lakkynge of bodily prosperite, more pan for lakkyng of gostly. . . .

And herby we answeren to pe fifte resoun, seyinge [5] pat verry
recreacion is leeveful ocupiynge in lasse 10 werkis, to more ardently
15 worchen11 grettere werkis; and perfore siche myraclis-pleyinge, ne
pe sijte of hem,12 is no verrey recreacion,13 but fals and worldly, as
proven 14 pe dedis of pe fautours 15 of siche pleyis. . . . And jif men
axen what recreac[i]oun men shulden han 16 on pe haliday, after peire
holy contemplacioun in pe chirche, we seyen to hem two pingis : oon,
20 pat jif he hadde ver[r]yly ocupied 17 hym in contemplac[i]oun byforn,
neyper he wolde aske[n] pat question, ne han wille 18 to se[n] 19
vanyte ; anopere, we seyn pat his recreacioun shulde ben in pe werkis
of mercy to his neyebore, and in delityng20 hym in alle good comu-
nicacion wip his ney[e]bore, as biforn he delitid 21 hym in God, and
25 in alle opere nedeful werkis pat reson and kynde22 axen.

And to pe last reson we seyn [6] pat peinture,23 jif it24 be verry,
wipoute mengyng 25 of lesyngis,26 and not to curious to 27 myche
fedynge mennus wittis, and not occasion of maumetrie 28 to pe puple,
pei ben but as nakyd lettris to a clerk to reden 29 pe treupe ; but so

1 omitting to weep

2 Luke 23. 28

8 MS. doyinge

4 which

6 MS. falf wittnessenge

6 MS. -yn

7 pleasure, enjoyment

8 MS. in

9 MS. -yn

10 smaller

11 MS. worschen

12 (miracle-plays)

13 MS. -sion

14 MS. -yn

15 patrons
is MS. have
l” MS. -ede

18 desire

19 see

28 MS. di-

21 MS. di-

22 nature

23 painting

24 MS. gif it it

25 mingling

26 falsehoods
2" intent upon

28 idolatry

29 MS. riden (em. M.)

A TREATISE AGAINST MIRACLE-PLAYS

285

ben not myraclis-pleyingis,1 pat ben made more to deliten men bodily
pan to ben bokis to lewid 2 * men, and perfore £if pei ben quike 8
bookis, pei ben quike bookis to schrewidnesse,4 5 more pan to god-
nesse.6 Code men, perfore, seinge per tyme to6 schort to ocupyen
hem in gode ernest werkis, and seinge pe day of per rekenynge 5
neygen 7 faste, and unknowyng whan pei schulen 8 go[n] hennys,
fleen alle siche ydilnessis, hyinge 9 pat pei weren 10 wip per 11 spouse,
Crist, in )>e blisse of hevene. . . .

[<5]if pou haddist had12 a fadir pat hadde suffrid13 a dispitous14 dep
to geten pee pyn heritage, and pou perafter woldest so lijtly ber[e]n 15 10
it, to make[n] perof a pley to pe 16 and to alle pe puple, no doute 17 but
pat alle gode men wolden demen 18 pe unkynde. Miche more, God and
alle his seyntis 19 demen 18 alle po 20 Cristen men unkynde pat pleyen or
favouren pe pley of pe dep or of pe myraclis 21 of per most kynde Fadir,
Crist, pat dyede and wroujte myraclis to bryngen men to pe evere- 15
lastande heretage of hevene.

But peraventure heere pou seist pat, [5] if 22 pleyinge of myraclis
be synne, never pe latere 23 it is but litil synne. But herfore,24 dere
frend, knowe jee pat eche synne, be it never so litil, [5] if it be
mayntenyd and prechid as gode and profitable, is deadly 25 synne ; 20
and perfore seip pe prophete 26 : ' Wo to hem pat seien good 27 yvel,
and yvel good28!’ and perfore pe wyse man dampnip29 hem pat
gladen80 whan pei don yvel; and perfore alle seyntis seyen pat
mannysch81 it is to fallen, but develiche it is to abyden stille per-
inne. perfore, sipen pis 82 myraclis-pleyinge is synne, as pou knowl- 25
echist,38 and is stedefastly meyntenyd, and also men deliten hem
perinne, no doute 17 but pat it is deadly synne, dampnable — develiche,
not mannysch. . . .

1 MS. -inge

2 ignorant, unlearned

8 living

4 wickedness ; MS. -ide-

5 MS. gode-

6 too

7 draw near

8 MS. schal

9 hastening

1° might be

11 MS. her

12 MS. hadde

13 MS. -ed

14 cruel ; MS. -ouse

15 so disregard

16 for thyself
1" MS. dowte
18 MS. denyen
is MS. -es

20 those

21 MS. -es

22 MS. of

28 nevertheless

24 in consideration of this

25 MS. deadely

26 MS. -ite
2? MS. gode

28 Isa. 5. 20

29 condemneth ; MS. -ej>

80 rejoice

81 human ; MS. -ysche

82 MS. >es

88 dost acknowledge

286

RELIGIOUS AND DIDACTIC PIECES

As pis is a verre lesynge to seyen pat for pe love of God he wil
ben a good felawe1 wip pe devul, so it is a verry2 lesyng to seyen
pat for pe love of God he wil pleyen his myraclis — for in neyper is
pe love of God schewid, but his hestis tobroken.8 And sypen pe cere-
5 monyes 4 of pe olde lawe — albeit fat pei weren jyven bi God — for
pei weren fleyshly, shulden 5 not be[n] holde[n] 6 wip pe Newe Testa¬
ment, for it is gostly 7 ; myche more pleyinge, for it is fleys[h]ly,
never beden 8 of God, shulde not ben don wip pe mervelouse werkis
of God, for pei ben gostly; for as pe pleyinge9 of Ismael wip Isaac
io shulde han 10 bynomen 11 Isaac his heretage, so 12 pe kepyng of pe cere-
monyes4 of pe olde lawe in pe Newe Testament shulde han bynomen
men per bileve in Crist, and han made men to gon bacward — pat is
to seie[n], fro pe gostly lyvyng of pe Newe Testament to pe fleyshly
lyvyng of pe Olde Testament. . . .

15 J?is myraclis-pleyinge is verre witnesse 13 of mennus averice and
coveytise byfore, pat is maumetrie, as seip pe Apostele 14 ; for pat pat 15
pei shulden spenden16 upon pe nedis of per nejeboris, pei spenden upon
pe pleyis ; and to peyen per rente and per dette pei wolen grucche[n],17
and to spende[n] two so myche 18 upon per pley pei wolen nopinge
20 grucchen. Also, to gaderen 19 men togidere to bien pe derre pere
vetailis,20 and to stiren men to glotonye, and to pride and boost,21 pei
pleyn pes myraclis ; and, also, to han wherof to spenden on pese
myraclis, and to holde[n] felawschipe of glotenye and lec[c]herie in
siche 22 dayes of myraclis-pleyinge, pei bisien hem beforn to more
25 gredily bygilen per nej[e]bors in byinge and in sellyng ; and so pis
pleyinge of myraclis now on dayes is verre23 witnesse of hidous24
coveytise, pat is maumetrie.

1 MS. felowe

2 MS. werry

8 MS. -un

4 MS. sery-

5 MS. pei shulden

6 ranked

7 of the spirit

8 bidden ; MS. -yn

Gen. 21.9 ( lu dent ern , Vul¬
gate ; see the Authorized
Version)
might have
taken from ; MS. -yn
MS. so in )?e
MS. witt-
Col. 3. 5
which

is MS. -yn

17 grudge

18 twice as much

19 MS. gideren

20 buy their food the dearer

21 boasting

22 MS. sicsse
28 MS. werre
24 MS. hidoous

MIRK, INSTRUCTIONS FOR PARISH PRIESTS 287

MIRK, INSTRUCTIONS FOR PARISH PRIESTS

The Lnstmctions for Parish Priests is a versified translation of the Pupilla
Oculi of William de Fagula {Diet. Nat. Biog. s.v. Mirk). Its author, who was
prior of Lilleshall in Shropshire, wrote also, besides a Latin Manualc Sacerdo-
tum, the Liber Festialis , an English book of sermons which was decidedly
popular, being printed eighteen times between 1483 and 1532 (Schofield,
English Literature from the Norman Conquest to Chaucer , p. 395). Nothing
more is known of Mirk’s life ; the date 1403 as the time at which he flourished
is conjectural.

The following selections are from Peacock’s print (E.E.T.S. 31, London,
1868 ; revised, 1902) of MS. Brit. Mus. Cotton Claud. A. 2, which he supposes
to be not later than 1450, and to represent the language of an earlier time.
The pages are respectively, with the exception of the third from the end, 2,
9-10, 14, 32, 43, 66-7, and 60, of the edition of 1902; the antepenultimate,
21-3 of the edition of 1868.

THE CHARACTER OF A PRIEST

Preste, Myself thow moste be chast,

And say ]>y serves wypowten hast,

That mowthe and herte acorden ifere,1
^ef thow wole that God ]>e here.

Of honde and mowpe J>ou moste be trewe,

And grete o]>es thow moste enchewe 2 ;

In worde and dede ]>ou moste be mylde,

Bothe to mon and to chylde.

Dronkelec3 and glotonye,

Pruyde and sloupe and envye,

Alle J>ow moste putten away,

<^ef ]?ow wolt serve God to pay.4
That )>e nedeth, ete and drynke,

But sle 5 \y lust for any thynge.

Tavernes also thow moste forsake,

And marchaundyse ]row schalt not make ;
Wrastelynge, and schotynge,6 and suche maner game,7

1 agree {lit. accord together)

2 eschew

3 drunkenness

4 please
6 slay, crush
8 shooting

7 sports of such sort

288

RELIGIOUS AND DIDACTIC PIECES

Thow myjte not use 1 wythowte blame ;
Hawkynge, huntynge, and dawnsynge,

Thow moste forgo for any thynge ;

Cuttede2 clothes and pykede3 schone,

Thye gode fame \ty wole fordone.4
Marketes and feyres I the forbede,

But 6 hyt be for the more 6 nede.

In honeste 7 clothes thow moste gon :
Baselarde 8 ny bawdryke 9 were pow non.
Berde and crowne thow moste be schave,
^ef thow wole thy ordere save.

Of mete and drynke pow moste be fre 10
To pore and ryche, by11 thy degre.

<^erne 12 thow moste thy Sawtere 13 rede,
And of the Day of Dome have drede ;

And evere do gode ajeynes 14 evele,

Or elles thow myjte not lyve wele.

BEHAVIOR IN CHURCH

No non in chyrche stonde schal,

Ny 15 lene to pyler ny to wal,

But fayre 16 on kneus ]>ey schule hem sette -
Knelynge doun upon the flette 17 —

And pray to God wyth herte meke
To jeve hem grace, and mercy eke.

Soffere hem to make no bere,18
But ay to be in here 19 prayere ;

288

1 practise

2 cut short (f)

8 long-toed

4 make way with
8 unless

6 greater

7 decent, simple

8 short sword, dagger

9 sword-belt

10 generous

11 according to

12 earnestly, zealously
18 Psalter

14 in return foi
18 nor
18 properly

17 floor

18 noise

19 their

4. pykede : ' The pikes were sometimes made like the tails of scorpions,
at others twisted into the form of a ram’s horn’ (Peacock’s note, ed. 1902, p. 73).

MIRK, INSTRUCTIONS FOR PARISH PRIESTS 289

And whenne fe gospelle ired 1 be schalle,

Teche hem |>enne to stonde up alle,

And blesse 2 feyre as fey conne
Whenne ' Gloria tibi ’ 8 ys bygonne.

And whenne }>e Gospel ys idone,

Teche hem eft to knele downe sone ;

And whenne they here the belle rynge

To that holy sakerynge,4

Teche hem knele downe, bofe jonge and olde,

And bofe here hondes up to holde,

And say fenne in fys manere,

Feyre and softely, wythowte bere :

' Jesu, Lord, welcome fow be,

In forme of bred as I fe se.

Jesu, for thy holy name,

Schelde me to-day fro synne and schame.

Schryfte 5 and howsele,6 Lord, fou graunte me bo,7
Er that I schale hennes go,

And verre 8 contrycyone of my synne,

That I, Lord, never dye thereinne ;

And, as fow were of a may 9 ibore,10
Sofere 11 me never to be forlore,12
But whenne fat I schale hennes wende,

Grawnte me fe blysse wythowten ended

THE CREED

I beleve in oure holy Drygt,13
Fader of hevene, God almygt,

J>at alle thynge has wrojt —

Hevene and erfe, and alle of nojt.

On Jesu Cryst I beleve also,

1 read

4 consecration of the elements

9 maiden

2 make the sign of the cross

5 confession and absolution

10 born

3 ' Glory be to thee, 0 Goa,’

6 receiving of the Eucharist

U suffer

sung between the Epistle

1 both

12 lost

and the Gospel

3 true

i® Lord

290

RELIGIOUS AND DIDACTIC PIECES

Hys only Sone, and no mo,

Jiat was conceyvede of pe Holy Spyryt,
And of a mayde ibore quyt 1 ;

And afterward under Pounce Pylale
5 Was itake 2 for vye3 and hate,

And soffrede peyne and passyone,

And on f>e croys was idone 4 ;

Ded and buryed he was also,

And wente to helle to spoyle 5 oure fo,
io And ros to lyve the )>ryde day,

And stegh 6 to hevene pe xl day.

<?jet he schale come wy}> woundes rede,
To deme 7 pe quyke and )>e dede.

In }?e Holy Cost I leve 8 welle ;

15 In Holy Chyrche and hyre spelle.9

In Goddes body I beleve nowe,

Amonge hys seyntes to geve me rowe,10
And of my synnes J>at I have done
To have plenere 11 remyssyone ;

20 And when my body from deth schal ryse,

I leve to be wyth God and hyse,12
And have the joye ]>at lasted ay ;

God graunte hymself pat I so may !

THE VANITIES OF THE FLESH

Hast ]’ou ben prowde and glad in thoght
25 Of any mysdede pat ]>ou hast wro^,t ?

Hast l>ou ben prowde of any gyse 18
Of any ]>ynge )>at )>ou dedust use,

Of party 14 hosen, of pykede schone,

Of fytered 15 clones (as foies done)

1 quite

2 seized
8 envy

4 done to death
6 despoil

6 ascended

7 judge

8 believe

9 teaching
10 rest

n full, complete

12 his

13 appearance, look

14 party-colored

15 slashed

mirk, instructions for PARISH PRIESTS 29

Of londes rentes, of gay howsynge,1
Of mony servauntes to py byddynge,

Or of hors fat and rownde,

Or for by godes 2 were hole and sownde,

Or for ]>ow art gret and ryche
y>at no nejbore ys ]>e ilyche,3
Or for pow art a vertues mon,

And const 4 more ]>en anoper con ?

Q9ef pou have be 5 on ]>ys maner prowd,

Schryf 6 pe, sone, and telle hyt out.

SINS OF CARELESSNESS

Hast pow icome by chyrchegorde,7
And for pe dede iprayed no worde ?
Hast )>ow ay cast up 8 lydejate 9
pere bestus have go in ate ?

Hast pow istruyed 10 corn or gras,

Or oper pynge pat sowen was ?

Hast pou icome in any sty,11
And cropped jerus 12 of come pe by ?
Art pou iwont over com to ryde,
When pou myjtest have go bysyde ?

THE PRONOUNCING OF EXCOMMUNICATION

pe grete sentens I wryte pe here,
pat foure tymes in pe gere
]7ou schalte pronownce withowtyn lette,13
Whan pe parich is togydur mette.
p>ou schalte pronownce pis hydowse pinge
Wit cros, and candul, and belle-knyllynge,14

11 path

12 ears

13 hindrance

14 tolling

1 trappings

2 goods, possessions
8 like

4 knowest

5 been

6 shrive, confess

8 fastened up (so as to prevent

the entrance of cattle)

9 gate between pasture-land

and ploughed land

10 destroyed

292 RELIGIOUS AND DIDACTIC PIECES

J?e furste Sononday affter Myghellfeste 1 ;

Myd-Lenton 2 Sonday schal be neste 3 ;

J?e Trenite feste is f e f ridde, os 4 I f e say ;

]?e ferthe is fe Sononday aftur Candulmes day.

5 Spelle 6 hit reddely,6 for nojte fou wonde,7

Jtat 8 alle men fe undurstonde.

FORM OF EXCOMMUNICATION (I)

By auttorite of God almijti, Fader9 and Son and Holy Gost, and of
al fe seyntes of heven. First,10 we accursen al them that broken 11 the
pece of Holy Chirch or sturben hit ; . . . all fat falsen or use false
io measures, busshelles, galones, and potelles,12 quartes, [cuppes], or false
wightes, poundes or poundrelles,13 or false ellenyerdes,14 wetyngly ofer
fan fe lawe of fe lond woll ; . . . also all fat distroubleth fe pes of
Englond, and traitors that ben false or isenting 10 to falsenes, agen fe
king or the reame 16 ; . . . also all that helpen with strength, or with vit-
15 ayles, or soccouren Jewes or Sarzons17 agen Cristendom ; also all fat
sleen childeren, or distroyen boren or unborn, with drynkes or with
wichcraft, and all her consentes 18 ; also all fat stondeth or herkeneth
by nygtes under wolles, dores, or wyndowes, for to spy touching evil,
and all house-brekeres and man-quellers.19. . .

FORM OF EXCOMMUNICATION (II)

20 By fe auctorite of oure Fadur, of fe Sone, of fe Holy Goste, and off
ou[r]e lady Seynte Mary, Goddus modur of heven, and alle ofur vir-
gynes, and Seynte Myhel,20 and alle ofur angellus and archangellus, and
Petur and Poule, and ofur apostolus, and Seynte Stewne,21 and alle ofur
martyres, and Seynte Nicholas, and alle ofur confessoures,22 and alle

1 Michaelmas

2 Mid-Lenten
8 next

4 as

5 speak, say; MS. sepelle

6 promptly, willingly

7 shrink, fear

8 so that

9 MS. ffader

w MS. ffirst
U break

12 a measure for liquids, equal
to half a gallon
18 scales, balances
11 ell-measures
1® consenting
16 realm
if Saracens

is accomplices

19 murderers

20 Michael

21 Stephen

22 those who suffered perse¬

cution, but not martyr¬
dom, for the sake of their
religion

THE RULE OF ST. BENEDICT

293

fe holy halowes 1 of hewen, we acurson and waryon 2 * and departon 8
from alle gode dedus and prayeres of Holy Chyrche, and dampnon 4
into fe peyne of helle, alle )>oo 5 pat have done feis articoles pat we
have sayde before, tyl6 pei comen to amendemente. We acurson hem
be fe auctorite off fe courete off Rome, witinne- and witouteforgfe,7
sclepynge and wakynge, goynge, syttynge and standinge, lyggynge,
ofbowne 8 fe erthe and undilr pe erthe, ... in wode, in watur, in felde,
and in towne. We acurson be pe Fadur and Sone and Holy Goste.
Acursyn hem angelus and archangellus, and alle fe nyne ordorus of
heven. Acursyn hem patriarchus, prophetus, and apostolus, and alle
Goddus disciplus, and alle holy innocentus, martyres, confessoures, and
virgynes, monkus, cannonus, eremytus,9 and prestus and clerkus, fat
fei have no parte off masses ne mateynus 10 ne evensonge, ne of none
ofur gode prayeres fat bene done in Holy Chyrche, no in none ofur
holy place; bot fe peynus of helle for to be here mede,11 wit Judas fat
betrayed oure Lord Jesu Cryste, and fe lyf of hem be putte oute of fe
bokus of lyfe, tyl fay comen to amendemente, and satisfaccion made.
Fiat, fiat ! Amen !

J>an fou fi candul kaste to grownde,

Ande spytte 12 ferto fe same stownde,18
And lette also fe belle knylle,

To make hertus fe more grylle.14

THE RULE OF ST. BENEDICT

' Perhaps it is hardly too much to say that no literary production since the
time of the apostles has contributed so much to Western civilization as the
Benedictine Rule ; and yet its author probably never regarded it as a literary
production at all’ (Cook and Tinker, Sel. Trans, from Old Eng. Prose, p. 278).

Benedict was bom at the end of the fifth century ; by the end of the sixth
his Rule was chosen by Pope Gregory the Great for a monastery Gregory had
founded at Rome. By the end of the eighth century — the age of Charlemagne

1 saints 6 MS. tul 11 reward

2 execrate 7 at home and abroad 12 spit

8 separate, shut off 8 above 18 at the same time

4 condemn 9 hermits, recluses 14 (to) shudder, tremble

£> those 10 matins

294

RELIGIOUS AND DIDACTIC PIECES

— the Rule was almost universally followed in European monasteries. Through¬
out the Middle Ages the Benedictine monks were famous for their learning,
and, by their zeal in copying classical manuscripts, preserved most of those
that have come down to us. For a general account of them, see Montalembert’s
Monks of the IVest, Book 4.

The early English manuscripts of the Rule are many of them based on a
version written for nuns. That from which our selections are taken is MS.
Brit. Mus. Cotton Vespasian A. 25, in the Northern dialect of the earlier fif¬
teenth century, as printed by Kock (E.E.T.S. 120), the respective pages being
95-6, 99-100, 102-5, :i5-6.

THE HOURS FOR MEALS

Of time of mete now es to lere,

In times and sesons of pe gere.

Fro Pas 1 right unto Witsunnday,

At ]>e sext our'2 ete sal pai,

]^e whilk es midday for to mene,

And sine 8 sal pai soupe 4 5 bedene.3
In somer, fro 6 Witsunday be past,
Wedinsday and Friday sal pai fast,
Bot-if 7 pai o]>er 8 swink 9 or swete
In hay or corn with travel grete.

And if pai non slike 10 travel done,11
On ]>os days sal pai fast to none.12
And on o]>er days, als I air 18 saide,

At mydday sal }>er mete be graide.14
Bot al )>is sal be purued 13 playn,

At pe ordinance of f>er soverayn 16 ;
What seson so 17 scho 18 putes j>am to,
Withoutin groching 19 sal ]>ai do.

Fro time pat December begin
Until clene Lentyn cum in,

1 Easter

2 sixth hour

8 afterwards

4 sup

5 together

6 from the time that

7 unless

8 either

9 labor

10 such

11 do, engage in

12 noon
18 before

14 ready, prepared

15 provided

16 prioress, superior

17 whatsoever manner of life

according to the season

18 she

19 grumbling

THE RULE OF ST. BENEDICT

At hi 1 none sal ]>ai ete ;

J>er lesons 2 sal pai not forgete.

In Lentyn sal non to mete gang
Efter 8 pe our of evynsang ;

And al servys 4 * pan sal |>ai sai
Efter mete, bi light of day,

So pat al be rewlid right
At wend 3 to bede bi dais lyght.

DAILY OCCUPATIONS

All pat wons in religioun 6
Aw 7 to have sum ocupacioun,

Ouper 8 in kirk of 9 hali bedes 10
Or stodying in oder stedes.11
For ydilnes, os sais Sant Paul,

Es grete enmy unto pe saul ;

And perfor es ordand 12 pat pai
Sum gude warkes sal wirk alway,

And sum certane times of pe jer
To wirk with hand, os men may her.
Fro Pase, thurgh al Cristyndome,

Til pe kalandes 18 of October cum,

Unto prime 14 sone sal pai rise,

And sine ilkon 16 wirk on per wise
What so es most nedeful labore,

Until pe tyme of pe third oure.

And lessons sal pai rede pan next
Fro pe third our unto pe sext.

And efterward thurgh wirchep

Fro oures 16 and mes 17 wend unto mete.

295

1 high

2 readings

8 MS. or efter

4 the whole service

6 to go

6 dwell in religion, lead

7 ought

8 either

9 with

10 prayers

11 other places
42 ordained

18 first

14 church-service celebrated

about 5 or 6 a.m.

15 each one

16 hours of service
i" mass

a religious life

296

RELIGIOUS AND DIDACTIC PIECES

And efter mete, pen sal pai slepe,
And silence al samen 1 sal pai kepe,
So pat none do oper disese,2
Bot ilkon paid 8 oper to plese.

Sone efterward, when pis es done,
And pai haf said pe our of none,
Until peir werk pen sal pai gang,
Unto pe tyme of evynsang,

To scher4 or bind, if it be nede,

Or dike,6 or els do oper dede,

For unto travel wor we born,

And al our elders us beforn.

Bot travel aw mesurd to be
Til ilkon efter per degre,

To men or women, old or jing,
Ilkon to do divers ping.

Fro October, os I are6 sayd,

Unto Lentyn es pus purvayd 7 :

In orisons, and in per oures
And lessons, sal be per laboures.

LENTEN OBSERVANCE

In Lentyn tyme pen sal pai rise
Arly, and say per servyse
And orisons til Codes honoure,
Until it be past pe third oure.
pan to pe tent our 8 sal pai wirk,
And sine til non 9 serve in pe kirk.
And in Lentyn aw pam to luke 10
pat ilkon have ordand a buke,

Whilk sal be red right to pe end,

Als pe cours of pe rewl hase kend.11

1 together

5 make ditches

6 before

7 provided for

8 tenth hour

9 noon

10 see to it

11 taught

2 discomfort, disturbance

8 content
4 cut, reap

THE RULE OF ST. BENEDICT

297

And who so groches oght here ogayn 1
Sal be punest with grevus payne.

Who tentes to trofils,2 * and wil not rede,

And pai overtayn 8 with Rat dede,
With payn )>ai sal amendes make,

So pat oper ensaumpil take.

THE ENTERTAINMENT OF GUESTS

A priores aw to be prest4
For to resave ilka gude gest,

And at hir myght pam mere8 make

Soveraynly for Godes sake, 10

Namely6 pam pat er7 pilgrams knawn,

And pouer 8 pat hase 9 not of per awn.

For God until [us] pus sal say
In dome,10 apon pe dredful day :

Hospes eram, et colligistis me — - 15

' I wos a gest in my degre,

And in jour hous je herberd me.’

]?an aw us 11 gestes and gud pilgrims
For to releve in al pere lims,

And for to refresch in al right, 20

Als it es det 12 be day and nyght,

And oblis 13 pam kissink 14 of pese,

Perfite luf for to encres.

And when pai cum, bi day or nyght,

And also when pai wend to flight, 25

Loute 18 unto ]iam aw 16 grete and small,

Or els unto per fete at 17 fall,

Witand 18 wele in pat sesoune
J>ai honour Crist in per persoune ;

1 against this

2 attends to trifles

8 if they are found out

4 ready, eager

6 merry

6 especially

8 poor people

9 have

1° judgment

11 it befits us, we ought

12 due

7 are

18 courteously give
if kiss

15 to bow

16 ought
11 to

18 knowing

3°

298

RELIGIOUS AND DIDACTIC PIECES

Eor who so resaves pe pure man
In Crist name, resaves Crist pan.

A soveraryn 1 sal ger gestes kepe 2
With honour and with gret wirchepe,

Or rede to fam, or ger be rede,

Plow hali men per lives lede. . . .

Scho sal gif water unto per hend,

And wesch peir fete, als Crist hase kend.3
When pai so do, pai sal reherce,

Word bi word, and say pis verce :

Suscepimus , Dens, misericordiam tuam in medio —
' We have resavyd, Lord, pi mercy,

In he mydes of pe hows haly.’ . . .

]?e gestes kechin 4 sal be set
Allone, pat it no noper5 let,

So pat pai be servyd at ese,

And ilk man redy pam to plese.

And luk per bedes 6 ordand bene
With litter larch 7 and clothes clene,

And swilk servandes assigned pam til
]iat wil pam serve with gude wil.

None aw pam do for to greve,

Ne speke with pam withoutyn leve,

Bot loutand 8 hals 9 pam wher pai go,

And with blissing pase furth pam fro.

THE NUN’S CLOTHING

Thay sal be clede ful wele, we wate,

Efter per place es cald or hate.

For in cald stedes10 who so er sted,11
]7am nedes for to be better cled ;

And 12 who er in hate cuntre,

2 cause guests to be entertained

prioress

5 other

6 beds

9 salute

10 places

8 taught
I kitchen

7 large straw-bed
s bowing

n situated
12 MS. in

THE RULE OF ST. BENEDICT

299

Sich clething to ]>am may be ;

And al it sal be purvayd playne
At ]>e ordinance of |>eir soverayne.

In comun places for alkins note 1
Sufficis a kirtil 2 and a cote 3 ;

And mantels sal ]>ai have certayne,

In winter dubil, in somer playne ;

And changing kirtils sal ]’ai have
In nyghtes her oper for to save.

Schos pai sail have, whor pai dwel,
Swilk os pai may find for to sel.4
Of ]’e farest 8 pai sal not by,

Bot pe vilist ful bowsumly.6
And feir soverayn aw for to se
]^at J>air gere 7 evynly o[r]dand 8 be,
Mete for ham ]>at sal it fang,9
And noher to schort ne to lang.

When hai tak new, he old sal hen
Be partid til 10 pouer women.

And when J’ai sal went 11 in cuntre,
pair clething sal mor honest 12 be ;

And home agayn when hai cum eft,
pen sal hai were slik os 13 hai left.

Until heir beddyng sal hai have
At 14 suffise ]?am fro cauld to save.

And oftsithes sail her bed be sene,
pat no tresure be ham betwene,

Ne no gude hat to ham may gayne 15 ;
Who so it hase, sail soffer payne.

For whi16 her soverayn sal ]>am bede1.
All unto ham hat es nede.

1 al] kinds of work

2 gown

8 skirt, petticoat
4 for sale
8 fairest
6 meekly

1 apparel

8 fitly ordered ; em. K.

9 receive

1° distributed to

11 go

12 finer

18 such as

14 (enough) to

15 be useful

16 wherefore

11 offer, give them

300

RELIGIOUS AND DIDACTIC PIECES

THE PORTER

Ane old man sal pe sates seme 1
]?at witti es, and wele wil seme 2 *
For to welcum with wordes fre
Evyrilk man in per degre.

His dwelling sal be dyght 8 algayte 4
In a cel beside pe sate>

So )>at he be redy ay

Til al 5 pat cums be nyght or day.

And when so ony knok or call,

Softli answer pam he sail ;

To her per wordes sal he be bayn,6
And bryng pam grath 7 answer ogayn.

And baynly sal he bryng and take
Al pat men sendes for Godes sake.

And ever him aw to seme pe sate
For al aventurs,8 arely and layte.

In abbais aw to be al thing
J?at nedeful es to peir lifing,

Als watter for to do al per dedis,

Miln,9 kiln,10 and oven, and al pat nedis, . . .
So pat pai sal not outward gang
To say, for dred, or wirk, oght wrang.

ROBERT MANNYNG OF BRUNNE, HANDLING SIN

Robert Mannyng of Brunne (now Bourne), in Lincolnshire, wrote his poem,
the Handlyng Synne, in 1303, when he had for fifteen years belonged to the
priory of Gilbertine canons at Sempringham (six miles from Bourne). The
work is a poetical adaptation of the Manuel des Pechiez of William of Wading-
ton, who wrote some time in the reign of Edward I (1272-1307). While char¬
acterizing the seven deadly sins, etc., it pictures in a lively way the life and
vices of the age, and inserts tales here and there to point a moral. The poem

1 keep 5 for all 9 mill

2 be suitable 6 ready 10 bakery

8 prepared 7 direct

4 always 8 with reference to all contingencies

ROBERT MANNYNG, HANDLING SIN

301

has been spoken of as ' the work which more than any former one foreshadowed
the path that English literature was to tread from that time forward’ (Diet.
Nat. Biog. s.v. Mannyng) ; and, in general, it has been more popular than the
writer’s other chief work, a chronicle-history of England. Of Mannyng’s
language Ten Brink says ( Early English Literature 1. 302) : ' Robert of Brunne
is without doubt one of the writers who served most to spread the East-
Midland dialect toward the south. And through him many new Romanic
words were probably either introduced into the English literary language, or
at least established there.’

With the caution in 303 10 ff. may be compared the following (reprint of
E.E.T.S. 15. 59) :

A man that intendyth to mynstrels shall soone be weddyd to poverte. . . .

Iff mynstrels pleace the, feyne as thow herde them, but thynke uppone another.

He that lawith [laughs] at a mynstrels worde gevith to hym a wedde [forfeit, pledge].

Our selections are from E.E.T.S. 1 1 9 and 123, which print the version of
this poem (12,630 lines long) in MS. Brit. Mus. Harl. 1701 ; and, in parallel col¬
umns, the corresponding parts of Wadington’s Old French. The selections are,
respectively, lines 9S5-1054, 4571-4614, 4739-4774, 8987-9006, 10,729-10,798.

THE PROPER WAY OF KEEPING HOLY DAYS

<5}yf pou make karol 1 or play,
p>ou halewyst nat pyn halyday.

(^yf pou come overgladly partyl,2
And gyvest parto mochyl 3 py wyl,

Yn pat hast foil mochyl plyjt,4

For synne wyl come Jnirgh swyche sygt.

<^yf pou ever settyst swerde eyper ryng
For to gadyr a wrastlyng,
pe halyday pou holdest noght,

Whan swyche bobaunce 6 for pe ys wrogt :

Cuntek 6 fere comyp , or ouper bobaunce,

And sum man slayn, or lost purge chaunce.

^yf pou ever yn felde, eyper 7 in toune,

Dedyst 8 floure-gerland or coroune 9
To make wommen to gadyr pere,

1 dancing in a ring, accompanied by singing 4 danger ‘ or

2 thereto, to it 5 P°™P 8 madest

8 greatly 6 quarreling, discord 8 coronal, wreath

302

RELIGIOUS ANI) DIDACTIC PIECES

To se whych pat feyrer were,
pys ys agens }>e commaundement,

And ]>e halyday for }>e ys shent 1 ;

Hyt ys a gaderyng for lecherye,

5 And ful grete pryde, and herte hye.2

^yf fou ever janglyst 3 at messe,

Yn \>& cherche with more or lesse,

And lettyst 4 men of 5 here preyers,

For hem perel solely }>ou berys ;
io pe halyday }>ou holdest nat rygt,

And lettyst to wurschyp God almygt.

Halyday was made for preyere,

To God oure herende 6 for to here.

Certys we ougt )>an with ful mynde
15 To preye God us of synne unbynde,7

And yn gode lyfe us wysse and rede,8
And forgeve us al oure mysdede.

<^yf })0u hauntyst9 to make \>y play
At }>e taverne on ]>e halyday,

20 To many on10 corny}) )>arfore evyl

purgh cumberaunce 11 of }>e devyl.

Holy Chyrche wyl }>e werne 12
pe halyday to go to )>e taverne,

And namly byfore }>e noun,18

25 Whan Goddys servyse owy]> to be doun.

Taverne ys }>e devylys knyfe ;

Hyt slep 14 pe, o))er soule or lyfe ;

One of pys shal hyt do,

<t)yf )>ou haunte 15 comunly ]>arto.

30 Hyt shorty}) |>y lyfe, over moche drynkynge,

And sle]) }>y soule with bakbytyngge ;

Hyt wasty}) }>y body, and make}) pe drye,

1 spoiled, ruined 6 petition n harassing, temptation

2 high heart 7 set us free from sin 12 forbid

8 dost engage in altercation 8 direct and counsel 18 noon

4 dost hinder 9 art accustomed 14 slayeth

5 from io many a one is resort

ROBERT MANNYNG, HANDLING SIN

303

And gadry)) 1 lecherye to glotonye ;

And ]>e comaundment ys brokun,

And ]>e halyday, byfore of spokun.

<^yf ]>ou do any man o dawe 2
On ke halyday for any lawe,

Swyche men grevusly werche
Ajens }>e state of Holy Chyrche ;

For holy preyere, and for J>e pees,

]">e halyday God hyt chees.

(5yf )’ou ever with jogeloure,8
\Yrith hasa[r]doure,4 or with rotoure,5
Hauntyst taverne, or were to any pere 6
To pley at ]>e ches or at f>e tablere,7
Specyaly before ]>e noun,

Whan Goddys servyse owy)> to be doun,

Hyt ys ajens ]ie comaundment

And Holy Cherches asent.8

£yf ]'ou be infra sacros ,9

And art a clerk, and hast ]>e los 10

Of subdekene, or dekene by name,

So moche art ]>ou ]>e more to blame.

]?ys 11 lerned men jyven ensample so
J?at J>e lewd 12 men ]?e more inysdo.18

THE EVIL OF TOURNAMENTS

Of tournamentys fat are forbede
Yn Holy Cherche, as men rede,

Of tournamentys Y preve 14 ferynne,

Sevene poyntes of dedly synne :

Fyrst ys pryde, as ]>ou wel wost,15
Avauntement,18 bobaunce, and bost ;

11 these

12 ignorant

13 do evil

14 prove

15 knowest

16 self-glorification

1 adds ; MS. gadryd

2 kill any man

8 juggler (one who enter¬
tained with songs, stories,
or tricks)

4 player at dice

6 player on the rote

6 a companion to any one

7 backgammon

8 sanction

9 of the lower clergy
1° praise, honor

304

RELIGIOUS AND DIDACTIC PIECES

Of ryche atyre ys here avaunce,

3°

Prykyng 2 here hors with olypraunce.3
Wete )>ou wel per ys envye
Whan one seep anoper do maystrye 4 ;
Oper yn wurdys oper yn dedys,

Envye moste of alle hem ledys.

Yre 6 and wrappe may pey nat late 6 ;
Ofte are tournamentys made for hate.
<^yf every knyjt lovede oper weyl,
Tournamentes shulde be never a deyl 7 ;
And certys pey falle yn sloghnes,8
pey love hyt more pan God oper messe ;
And, perof ys hyt no doute,
pey dyspende more gode per aboute 9 —
pat ys geve alle to folye —
pan to any dede of mercy.

And gyt may nat, on no wyse,

Be forgete10 Dame Coveytyse,

For she shal fonde,11 on alle wyse,12
To wynne hors and harnyse.

And gyt shal he make sum robbery,

Or bygyle hys hoste per 13 he shal lye.14

Glotonye also ys hem among,
Delycyus metes 15 to make hem strong,
And drynke pe wyne pat he were lyght,
Wyp glotonye to make hym wyght.16

^yt ys pere Dame Lecherye ;

Of here 17 cump alle here 18 maystrye.
Many tymes, for wymmen sake,
Knyghteys tournamentys make ;

And whan he wendyp to pe tournament

3°

1 boast, vaunt

2 urging on

3 vanity, ostentation

4 wonderful deeds

5 anger

6 forsake, desist from

7 bit

8 sloth

9 in this pursuit
1° forgotten

n try

12 by every means

18 where

14 spend the night

45 viands

46 courageous

17 her

18 their

ROBERT MANNYNG, HANDLING SIN

305

She sendy|> hym sum pry vy 1 present,

And byt'2 hym do for hys lemman
Yn vasshelage 3 alle pat he kan ;

So ys he bete 4 pere, for here love,

pat he ne may sytte hys hors above, 5

pat peraventure, yn alle hys lyve,

Shal he never aftyr pryve.

BISHOP GROSSETESTE OF LINCOLN

Y shall jow telle, as Y have herd,

Of pe bysshope Seynt Roberd 5 ;

Hys toname6 ys Grostest 10

Of Lynkolne, so seyp pe gest.7
He loved moche to here pe harpe,

For mannys wytte hyt makyp sharpe.

Next hys chaumbre, besyde hys stody,

Hys harpers chaumbre was fast perby ; 15

Many tymes, be nygtys and dayys,

He had solace of notes 8 and layys.

One asked hym onys 9 resun why
He had delyte yn mynstralsy ;

He answerede hym on pys manere, 20

Why he helde pe harper so dere :

' ] ?e vertu of pe harpe, purgh skylle and rygt,

Wyl destroye pe fendes mygt,

And to pe croys by gode skylle

Ys pe harpe lykened weyle. 25

Anoper poynt cumfortep me :

]?at God hap sent unto a tre
So moche joye to here with eere ;

Moche pan more joye ys pere

With God hymselfe, pere he wonys.10 30

1 secret

2 bids

8 prowess

4 beaten, smitten

6 Robert 9 once

6 surname, nickname 10 where he dwells

" romance, tale
8 melodies, songs

3°6

RELIGIOUS AND DIDACTIC PIECES

pe harpe perof me ofte mones 1
Of pe joye and of }>e blys
Where God hymself wonys and ys.
parefor, gode men, je shul lere,2
5 Whan ge any glemen here,

To wurschep God at 3 joure powere,

As Davyd sey|> yn ]te Sautere 4 * :

" Yn harpe, yn thabour, and symphan gle,6
Wurschepe God ; yn troumpes,3 and sautre,7
io Yn cordys,8 an organes, and bellys ryngyng,

Yn al )>ese, wurschepe je hevene Kyng.9 v ’

QUIET IN CHURCH AND CHURCHYARD DURING THE
TIME OF SERVICE

Karolles, wrastlynges, or somour-games,10
Whoso ever hauntej) any swyche 11 shames 12
Yn cherche o]>er yn cherchejerd,

15 Of sacrylage he may be aferd ;

Or entyrludes, or syngynge,

Or tabure bete,13 or o)>er pypynge,

Alle swyche pyng forbodyn es
Whyle J>e prest stonde]> at messe.

20 Alle swyche to every gode preste ys lothe,

And sunner wyl he make hym wroth
]?an he wyl }>at ha)> no wyt,

Ne undyrstonde}) nat Holy Wryt;

And specyaly, at hyghe tymes,

25 Karolles to synge, and rede rymys,

Noght yn none holy stedes,14

pat myjt dysturble fe prestes bedes,15

1 reminds

2 learn

8 according to

4 psalter

6 music of the symphony (in¬

strument like the tabor)

8 trumpets

7 psaltery

8 chords (strings of a musical

instrument)

9 Ps. 150.3-5

10 summer-games

n such

12 disgraceful doings

13 beating

14 places

15 devotions

ROBERT MANNYNG, HANDLING SIN

307

Or jyf he were yn orysun,1
Or any ouper devocyun,

Sacrylage ys alle hyt tolde.2

THE TALE OF THE MINER

]?yr was a man begunde ]»e see
A mynour, woned 3 yn a cyte.

(Mynurs, ]>ey make yn hyllys holes,

As yn )>e West Cuntre men seke coles.)

J^ys mynur sojte stones undyr pe molde,4
J^at men make of 5 sylver and golde ;

He wrogt on a day, and holed 6 yn pe hyl ;

A perylous chaunce to hym fyl,7

For a grete party 8 of pat yche9 myne

Fyl dowun yn pe hole, and closed hym ynne.

Hys felaus alle, pat were hym hende,10
}?at he were dede weyl solely wende ;

]?ey gede 11 and toke hem alle to rede,12
And tolde hys wyfe ]>at he was dede.

f>ys womman pleyned 13 here husbonde sore —
Wulde God pat many swyche wommen wore ! —
She hylpe hys soule yn alle pyng,

In almesdede, and yn offryng ;

She offred for hym to pe auter,

Ful of wyne, a pecher,14
And a feyre lofe withalle,

Every day as for a pryncypalle,15
Alle pat twelvemonep stabely,16
But o 17 day pat passed forby.

Fewe swyche wymmen now we fynde,

1 prayer, supplication

2 counted, considered
8 who dwelt

5 from which are made
5 dug

4 earth

10 kindly disposed

11 went

12 took counsel all together

8 part

9 same

" befel

is lamented, bewailed

14 pitcher

15 ?

16 regularly

17 one

3°8

RELIGIOUS AND DIDACTIC PIECES

pat to here husbondes are so kynde.

But fys wyfe, at 1 alle here mygt,

Ded for hym hope day and nyjt.

Fyl hyt at fe twelvemonef ende,

5 Hys felaws to fe mounteyne gun wende,

And come to fe same stede efte
pere fey last here werk ilefte,

Rygt }>ere fey fyrst bygan,

And perced furgh unto fys man.
io pe man yn gode state fey fonde,

Lyvyng withoute wem 2 or wounde.
Everych one fey hadde grete ferly,3
And fat was grete resun why
Alle fo men were yn grete were 4
15 How he had lyved alle fat jere.

But he tolde hem everych one
How he hadde lyved fere alone :

' Y have lyved gracyous lyfe
purgh fe curtesye of my wyfe,

20 For every day she haf me sent

Brede and wyne to 6 present ;

But o day certys ete Y nojt,

For no mete 6 was to me brogt.’
pey led fys man unto fe tounne,

25 And tolde fys myracle up and dounne,

Fyrst furogh fe cyte,

And seffe 7 furogh fe cuntre.
pey asked hym, at fe laste,
pat day fat he dyde faste ;

30 He tolde hem fe dayes name,

And hys wyfe seyd fe same ;
pat day she offred never a deyl 8 —
pe Gode Fryday he myjt be weyl.

1 with 4 doubt, uncertainty

2 harm, injury 5 as a

8 wonder, astonishment 6 food

" afterwards
8 bit

THE BOOK OF LA TOUR-LANDRY

309

Now mow 1 ge here ]>at almesdede
Gostely 2 a man wyl fede,

And so mow ge weyl undyrstande
y>at God ys payd of 3 gode offrande.

But for alle |>ys tale, yn goure lyves, 5

Truste ge nat moche on goure wyves,

Ne on goure chyldryn, for no fyng,

But make|> geself 4 goure offryng,

For so kynde a womman as Y of tolde

Lyve)> nat now, be J>ou bolde 5 ; 10

Ne no clerk, J>at pys ryme redys,

Shal fynde a womman of so kynde dedes.

THE BOOK OF THE KNIGHT OF LA TOUR-LANDRY

Among the numerous instruction-books of the Middle Ages was one known
as Le Livre du Chevalier de la Tour-Landry pour l'£nseig?iement de ses Filles,
a series of tales written (collected, rather) in 1371-1372 for his motherless
daughters by Geoffroy de la Tour-Landry, a nobleman of Anjou. A similar
book written for his sons has disappeared entirely, but this for the daughters
was frequently copied — about a dozen manuscript copies being still in exist¬
ence. A German translation of the work was printed toward the end of the
fifteenth century, and an English translation by Caxton in 1484.

Our selections are taken from the Early English Text Society’s print
(No. 33, ed. Wright, 1868; revised ed., 1906) of MS. Brit. Mus. Harl. 1764,
assigned to the reign of Henry VI (1422-1461). This translation, by an
unknown hand, is much less literal than Caxton’s (cf. Wright’s introduction).
The selections are from pages 1-4, 22, 26-8, and 39-40 of the edition of 1906.
The words in brackets are supplied from Caxton’s edition.

PROLOGUE

In the yere of the incarnacion of oure Lord MCCCLXXI, as Y was
in a gardin, al hevi and full of thought, in the shadow, about the ende
of the monthe of Aprill, but a litell Y rejoysed me of the melodie and 15
song of the wilde briddes. Thei sang there in her 6 langages, as the
thrustill, the thrusshe, the nytinggale, and other briddes, the whiche

1 may

2 spiritually

8 pleased with
4 yourself

6 assured
8 their

3io

RELIGIOUS AND DIDACTIC PIECES

were full of mirthe and joye ; and thaire suete songe made my herte
to lighten, and made me to thinke of the tyme that is passed of my
youthe, how love in gret distresse had holde me, and how Y was in
her service mani tymez full of sorugh and gladnesse, as mani lovers
5 ben. But my sorw was heled, and my service wel ysette 1 and quitte,
for he gave [me a fayr] wyff, and . . .2 that was bothe faire and good,
[whiche had knowleche of alle honoure, alle good, and fayre mayn-
tenynge,8] and of all good she was bell 4 and the floure ; and Y delited
me so moche in her that Y made for her love-songges, balades,
io rondelles, viralles,5 and diverse nwe thinges in the best wise that Y
couthe. . . . And as Y was in the saide gardein, thinkynge of these
thoughtz, Y sawe come towardes me my iii doughters, of the whiche
I was joyfull, and had grete desire that thei shuld turne to good and
worshipe above all ertheli thinges, for thei were yonge, and had but
1 5 tendir witte ; and so atte the begynnyng a man aught to lerne 6 his
doughters with good ensaumples yevinge, as dede the Quene Proues
of Hongrie, that faire and goodly chastised 7 and taught her doughters,
as it [is] contened in her boke. . . . And Y said to hem that Y wolde
make a boke of ensaumples, for to teche my doughtres, that thei
20 might understand how thei shulde governe hem, and knowe good
from evell. And so Y made hem extraie 8 me ensaumples of the Bible
and other bokes that Y had, as the gestis9 of kingges, the croniclez
of Fraunce, Grece, of Inglond, and of mani other straunge londes.
And Y made hem rede me everi boke ; and ther that Y fonde a good
25 ensaumple, Y made extraie it oute. And thanne Y made this boke.
But Y wolde not sette it in ryme, but in prose, for to abregge 10 it,
and that it might be beter and more pleinly to be understond. And
Y made this boke for the gret love that Y had to my said doughtres,
the whiche Y loved as fader aught to love his child, having hertely
30 joye to finde wayes to stere and turne hem to goodnesse and wor-
shippe, and to love and serve her11 Creatoure, and to have love of her
neighboures and of the world. And therfor all faders and moders,
after good nature,12 aught to teche her children to leve all wrong and

1 bestowed 5 virelays 9 tales

2 MS. illegible 6 teach io abridge, shorten

8 deportment 7 corrected U their

4 bore the bell 8 extract 12 in the kindness of their hearts

THE BOOK OF LA TOUR-LANDRY

Sir

evell waies, and shew hem the true right weye, as wele for the salvacion
of the soule as for the worshipe of the worldely bodi. And therfor Y
have made ii bokes, one for my sones, another for my doughtres, for to
lerne hem to rede. And in reding, it may not be but that thei shall kepe
with hem som good ensaumple for to flee evell, and withholde the good. 5
For it shall not be posible but sumtyme thei shall have mynde on sum
good ensaumple, sum good doctrine of this boke, whanne thei knowe
or here speke hereafter, as thei fall in the rewe 1 upon sum spekers of
suche matiers.

THE STORY OF THE MAGPIE

Ther was a woman that had a pie 2 in a cage, that spake and wolde 10
tell talys that she saw do. And so it happed that her husbonde made
kepe 3 a gret ele in a litell ponde in his gardin, to that entent to yeve
it sum of his frendes that wolde come to see hym ; but the wyff,
whanne her husbond was oute, saide to her maide : ' Late us ete the
gret ele, and Y will saie to my husbond that the otour4 hathe eten 15
hym ; ’ and so it was done. And whan the good man was come, the
pye began to tell hym how her maistresse had eten the ele. And he
yode5 to the ponde, and fonde not the ele. And he asked his wiff
wher the ele was become.6 And she wende to have excused her, but
he saide her : ' Excuse you not, for Y wote well ye have eten yt, for 20
the pye hathe told me.’ And so ther was gret noyse 7 betwene the
man and hys wiff for etinge of the ele. But whanne the good man
was gone, the maistresse and the maide come to the pie, and plucked
of all the fedres on the pyes hede, saieng : ' Thou hast discovered 8
us of the ele ’ ; and thus was the pore pye plucked. But ever after, 25
whanne the pie sawe a balled or a pilled 9 man, or a woman with an
high forhede, the pie saide to hem : 'Ye spake of the ele.’ And ther¬
for here is an ensaumple that no woman shulde ete no lycorous 10
morcelles in the absens and withoute weting 11 of her husbond, but
yef it so were that it be with folk of worshippe, to make hem chere 12 ; 30
for this woman was afterward mocked for the pye and the ele.

1 successively 6 went 9 with hair removed

2 magpie 6 what had become of the eel 10 dainty

8 caused to be kept " disturbance 11 knowledge

4 0tter 8 betrayed 12 entertainment

312

RELIGIOUS AND DIDACTIC PIECES

THE STORY OF THE OBEDIENT WIFE

Hit happed onis there were iii marchauntes that yede 1 homwarde
from a faiere, and as thei fell in talkinge, ridyng on the waye, one
of hem saide : ' It is a noble thinge a man to have a good wiff that
obeiethe and dothe his biddinge atte all tymes.’ ' Be my trouthe,’
5 saide that other, ' my wiff obeiethe me truly.’ ' Be God,’ saide that
other, ' Y trowe myn obeieth best to her husbonde.’ Thanne he that
beganne furst to speke saide : ' Lete 2 leye a wager of a dener,8 and
whos wiff that obeiethe worst, lete her husbonde paie for the dener ’ ;
and thus the wager was leyde. And thei ordeined amonges hem how
io thei shulde saie4 her wyfes, for thei ordeined that everi man shulde
bidde his wyff lepe into a basin that thei shulde sette afore her, and
they were suoren that none shulde late his wiff have weting 6 of her
wager, save only thei shulde saye : ' Lokithe,6 wiff, that Y comaunde
be done.’ However it be, after one of hem bade his wiff lepe into the
15 basin that he had sette afore her on the grounde, and she ansuered
and axed wherto,7 and he saide : ' For it is myn luste,8 and Y will ye
do it.’ ' Be God,’ quod she, ' Y will furst wete 9 wherto ye will have
me lepe into the basin.’ And for nothinge her husbond coude do she
wolde not do it. So her husbonde up with his fust,10 and gave her ii
20 or iii gret strokes ; and thanne yede thei to the secounde marchauntys
hous, and he comaunded that whatever he bade do it shulde be do,
but it was not longe after but he bade his wiff lepe into the basin that
was afore her on the flore, and she asked wherto, and she saide she
wolde not for hym. And thanne he toke a staffe, and al tobete 11 her.
25 And thanne thei yode to the thridde marchauntes hous, and there thei
fonde the mete on the borde, and he rowned 12 in one of his felawes
heres, and saide: 'After dyner Y will assaie my wiff, and bidde her
lepe into the basin.’ And so thei sette hem to her 13 dyner. And whan
thei were sette, the good man saide to his wiff : ' Whatever Y bidde,
30 loke it be done, however it be.’ And she that loved hym, and dredde

1 went

2 let us
8 dinner

4 assay, try

5 knowledge

6 see to it

7 for what purpose

8 desire

9 know

10 fist

n beat severely
12 whispered
ig their

THE BOOK OF LA TOUR-LANDRY

313

hym, herde what he saide, and toke hede to that worde, but she wost1
not what he ment. But it happed that thei had atte her dyner rere 2
eggis, and there lacked salt on the horde, and the good man saide :

' Wiff, sele sus table,’ and the wiff understode that her husbonde had
saide: ' Seyle sus table,’ the whiche is in Frenshe: 'Fepe on the borde.’ 5
And she, that was aferde to disobeie, lepte upon the borde, and threw
down mete and drinke, and brake the verres,8 and spilt all that there
was on the borde. ' What,’ saide the good man, ' thanne canne 4 ye
none other plaie, wiff ? ’ * Be ye wode,5 sir,’ she saide, ' Y have do
youre biddinge, as ye bade me to my power, notwithstondinge it is 10
youre harme and myn ; but Y had lever ye had harme and Y bothe,
thanne Y disobeied youre biddinge ; for ye saide : " Seyle sus table.” ’

' Nay,’ quod he, ' Y saide : " Sele sus table,” that is to saie, " Salt on
the borde.” ’ ' Bi my trouthe,’ she saide, ' Y understode that ye bade
me lepe on the borde,’ and there was moche mirthe and laughinge. And 1 5
the other two marchauntes saide it was no nede to bidde her lepe
into the basin, for she obeied ynough ; wherthorugh 6 thei consented
that her husbond had wonne the wager, and thei had lost bothe. And
after7 she was gretly preised for her obeisaunce to her husbonde, and
she was not bete as were that other ii wyves that wolde not do her 20
husbondes comaundement.

HOW ST. BERNARD’S SISTER WAS LED AWAY FROM

VANITIES

Hit befell that Seint Bernarde, that was an holy man and of gret
richesse and birth, lefte all his possessiones and good, and yede to
serve God in an abbey ; and for his holy lyving, and weringe 8 of
the heyre, and doinge gret abstinence and almesdedes, made 9 that 25
he was chose to be abbot of that place. And he hadd a gret ladi to
his suster, that come to see hym withe gret meyni,10 well arraied with
riche clothinge, and riche atyred of perles and presious stones. And
in this array she come afore her brother, Seint Bernard. And whanne

1 knew 6 mad

2 underdone 6 wherefore

3 glasses 7 afterwards

4 know 8 MS. of weringe

9 brought it about

10 retinue

314

RELIGIOUS AND DIDACTIC PIECES

he sawe her in that array, he turned to her his backe and blessed 1
hym, and the lady was ashamed, and asked whi he ne wolde with her
speke. And he saide that he had gret pitee to see her so disgised,
and in that pride that she was inne. And she dede of2 her riche
5 atyre and gay clothes, and toke other symple arraye. And he saide :
' Suster, yef Y love youre bodi, by reson Y shuld beter love youre
sowle. Wene ye not that ye displese God and his aungells to see in
you suche pompe and pride, to aorne 8 suche a carion as is youre body,
whiche withinne vii dayes that 4 the soule ys parted from the body, he
io saverithe 5 in suche wise that no creatoure may suffre to be nigh it or
see it, with[out] gret abhominacion ? Faire suster, whi thenke ye not
of 6 the pore peple that deyen for hungir and colde, that for the sixte
part of youre gay arraye xl persones might be clothed, refresshed, and
kepte from the colde ? ’ And thus Bernarde declared the foly and the
iS pompe of the worlde to his suster, and also the savement of her soule.
And thanne the ladi wepte, and solde awey her clothes, and levid
after an holy lyff, and had love of God, aungeles, and holy seintez,
the whiche is beter thanne of the worldely pepill.

GESTA ROMANORUM: THE MAGIC IMAGE

The Gesta Romanorum is a series of mediaeval tales and their morals, orig¬
inally written in Latin, and widely used for further artistic development or for
illustrative material by the writers and preachers of the later Middle Ages. In
the collection are versions of the tale of Constance which Chaucer tells in his
Man of Law's Tale, of Shakespeare’s bond- and casket-incidents in The
Merchant of Venice, and of the Lear story; and many less-known tales appear
in later poems and ballads. The date, authorship, and origin of the series are
doubtful; for discussions of them see the Latin version, ed. Oesterley, 1872,
revised 1877, and the Early English Text Society’s reprint of the Middle
English versions (ed. Herrtage, 1879; Ex. Ser. 33). Cf. also Swan's transla¬
tion of the Latin Gesta Romanorum in the Bohn Library.

The following selection is from Herrtage’s reprint of MS. Brit. Mus. Harl.
7333- and is No- 3 of the series of tales (pp. 7-8). The Middle English versions
(3 manuscripts) are all dated in the reign of Henry VI (1422-1461).

Our story has been versified by William Morris as The Writing on the Image,
in The Earthly Paradise.

1 made the sign of the cross
3 took off

8 adorn

4 from the time when

5 it has an odor

6 MS. that

GESTA ROMANORUM: THE MAGIC IMAGE 315

Deoclician was emperour in pe cite of Rome, in pe empire of whom
was a philosophre, callid Lenoppus, pe which had bi his crafte sette
up an ymage, pe which put out an hond with a fynger, and upon the
finger was wretyn wordis, Percute hie , that is to say, ' Smite here.’
This ymage stode per long, and many a day after pe deth of pe phi- 5
losophre ; and many come to pis finger, and radde the superscripcion,
but pey undirstode it not, and therfore pei hadde moch marvaile what
it shuld mene. So in a certeyne tyme per com a clerke of ferr con-
treys, and ofte tymis he sawe pis ymage, and pis finger with pe scrip¬
ture.1 And in a certeyne day he toke a shovill, and dyggyd in the 10
erth, undir pe superscripcion. And anon he fond a hous of marbill
undir pe erth ; and thanne he went down, and enterid into the hall,
and per he fond so many riche jewelis and marvelous pingys, that no
tunge cowde tell. Aftir pis he sawe a bord or a table, isprad with rich
metys ynowe peruppon. Thenne he lokid afer,2 3 and sawe stonding a 15
charbuncle ston, the which gaf ligt over all the hous ; and agenst hit
stod a man, with a bowe in his hond, redy for to schete. This clerke
perceivid well this sight, and pou[g]te, )?og I tell pis sigt8 whenne I am
ago 4 hens, no man woll trowe 5 me, and perfore I woll take som of
pis goode in tokne. He stirte to pe bord, and tooke a faire gilt cowpe, 20
and put it up ; and anoon the man with pe bowe sheet to the char¬
buncle ston so soore that it gede 6 onsundre, and po was all the ligt
agon, and pe hous was full of dorknesse. And whenne pe clerke sawe
pis, he wepte soore, for he wiste not how to passe out, for dorknesse.
And perfore he dwelte per still, and per he endyd his lif, etc. 25

Moraiite. Goode men, pis ymage that is thus ypaynt 7 is the devell,
pe which seith evermore : Percute hie , * Smyte here,’ that is to sey, he
puttith in our hertes erthely thingis, and biddith us take hem, but he
woll never speke of hevinly thingis. The clerke pat smytith with the
shovill bitokenyth pe wise men of pis wordle,8 and ben advocatis and 30
pletouris,9 pe which by sotilte and wickidnesse getith pe goode of pis
wordle, and pe vanyteys of pis wordle. And whenne thei, have geten
hem with such worching, they fyndith many marveilous pingis, pat is

1 inscription, writing 4 gone 7 painted

i afar s believe 8 world

3 MS. sijth 6 parted 9 pleaders

3 16

RELIGIOUS AND DIDACTIC PIECES

to sey, dilectabill pingis of pe wordle, in pe which pei have gret dilecta-
tion. The charbuncle ston pat jevith lijt is pe yowth of man, pe which
gevith to man hardinesse to have dilectacion and liking of 1 wordly 2
pingis. The archer pat shetith is deth, pe which stondith evermore
5 redy in awaite,3 for to shete his dart. Now the clerke panne takith a
knyfe — what is that ? The wordly man, trowing to have all thingis
at his owne will. But in that trust the archer shetith att pe charbuncle
ston, that is to sey, deth shetith his schotys to pe gowth of man, and
smytith his strength 4 and his myjte ; and penne lieth the yowth in
io derkenesse of synne, in the which derkenesse many men oftyn tyme
deyeth. And perefore lat us fle all lustys and all likingys, and penne
we schull not faile of everlasting li^t, ad quarti nos per ducat, etc.

THE BESTIARY

The Bestiary , or Physiologus, had a history of something like a thousand
years before it entered Middle English, which it did as a translation from the
Latin of a certain Theobaldus ; his work had been already rendered into
French by Philippe de Thaon, who dedicated his version to Adela, second
wife ( 1 1 2 1 ) of Henry I of England. The Middle English version belongs to
ca. 1220.

The two subjects dealt with below — the Whale (Turtle) and the Panther
— are also treated in Old English poetry (see my edition of the Old English
Elene , Phoenix , and Physiologus (New Haven, 1919), where a much fuller
account is given, with references to the bibliography of the subject).

Our text is derived from Matzner, Altenglische Sprachproben (1. 55-75),
which in turn reproduces Wright and Halliwell, Reliquice Antiques 1. 208-27.
Emendations are by Matzner, and (of the Whale) by Emerson ( Middle English
Reader ) ; others are mine.

THE WHALE (TURTLE)

Cethegrande 5 is a fis,6

De moste 7 Sat in water is ;

Dat tu wuldes seien 8 get,

Gef Su it soge 9 wan it flet,10

1 MS. the

5 whale ( properly , turtle)

9 saw

8 worldly

8 fish

10 floated

8 waiting

7 largest

4 MS. strenght

8 say

THE BESTIARY

317

Dat it were an eilond 1
Dat sete 2 on 3 8e se-sond.4

Dis fis fiat is unride,6
Danne him hungreft, he gapeS wide ;

Ut of his 8rote it smit6 an onde,7 5

De swetteste fting 8at is o londe.

Derfore o8re fisses to him dragen 8 ;

Wan he it felen he aren fagen 9 ;

He cumen and hoven 10 in his mu'S ;

Of his swike 11 he arn uncuft.12 10

Dis cete 13 8anne hise chaveles 14 lukeS,15
Dise fisses alle in sukeft ;

De smale he wile (5us biswiken,18
De grete maig he nogt bigripen.17

Dis fis wuneS wiS <5e se-grund,18 15

And liveS tier evre heil and sund,19
Til it cumeS tie time
Dat storm stireS al tie se,

Danne sumer and winter winnen.20

Ne mai it wunen Serinne[n], 20

So drovi 21 is te sees grund,

Ne mai he wunen tier Sat stund,22
Oc stireS up 23 and hoveS stille.

Wiles 24 Sat 25 weder is so file,

De sipes 26 Sat arn on se fordriven 27 — 25

LoS hem is deS,28 and lef 29 to liven —

Biloken 80 hem, and sen Sis fis ;

An eilond he wenen 31 it is.

1 island

2 sat

3 MS. one (em. E.)
* sea-sand (nom.)

6 unwieldy, bulky
6 emits
" breath

8 draw near

9 glad
1° abide

U trickery

12 ignorant

13 sea-monster
U jaws

15 shuts
15 deceive

17 seize, get hold of

18 dwells near the bottom of

the sea

19 well and sound

20 contend

21 turbid

22 at that time

23 rises
21 while

25 MS. Sar (em. E.)
28 ships

27 driven about

28 MS. ded (em. E.)

29 dear, pleasant

30 look about

81 they suppose

3i8

RELIGIOUS AND DIDACTIC PIECES

Derof he aren swiSe fagen,

And mid here migt Sarto he dragen
Sipes on festen,1
And alle up gangen,

5 Of ston mid stel in Se tunder 2

Wei to brennen 3 on 4 Sis wunder,

Warmen hem wel, and eten 6 and drinken.

De fir he feleS, and doS 6 hem sinken,

For sone he diveS dun to grande ;
io He drepeS 7 hem alle vviSuten wunde.

Significacio. Dis devel is mikel wiS wil and magt
(So 8 wicches 9 haven in here craft) ;

He doS men hungren, and haven Srist,10
And mani oSer sinful list,11
iS TolleS 12 men to him wiS his onde,

Woso him folegeS,13 he findeS sonde.14
Do arn Se little in 15 leve 16 lage 17 ;

De mikle ne maig he to him dragen —

De mikle, I mene Se stedefast
20 In rigte leve mid fles 18 and gast.

Woso listneS develes lore,

On lengSe it sal him rewen 19 sore ;

Woso festeS 20 hope on him,

He sal him folgen to helle dim.

1 with reference to fasten¬

8 such as

15 (who are) in

ing, for the purpose of

9 enchanters; MS. witches

1® faith

anchoring

(em. E.)

1" low

2 tinder

10 thirst

18 body

8 make a fire

n pleasure

19 rue ; MS. reven (em.

4 MS. one (em. E.)

12 draw; MS. colleiS (em. E.)

E.)

6 MS. heten (em. E.)

18 follows ; MS.folge'5 (em.

20 fasteneth (alluding to

6 causes

E.)

the anchorage and

7 slays

14 shame

landing)

THE BESTIARY

319

THE PANTHER

Panter is an wilde der,

Is non fairere on vverlde her ;

He is blac so bon 1 of qual,2 3
Mid 8 wite spottes sapen 4 al,

Wit, and trendled 5 als a wel,6 5

And it 7 bicumeS him swiSe wel.

Worso he wuneS, Sis panter,

He fedeS him al mid oSer der ;

Of So Se he wile he nimeS Se cul,8

And fet him 9 wel til he is ful. 10

In his hole siSen 10 stille
Dre dages he slepen wille ;

Dan after Se Sridde dai

He riseS and remeS 11 lude so 12 he mai.

Ut of his Srote cumeS a smel 15

Mid his rem forS over al,

Dat overcumeth haliweie 18
WiS swetnesse, Ic gu 14 seie ;

And al Sat evre smelleS swete,

Be it drie, be it wete. 20

For Se swetnesse off his onde,

Worso 15 he walkeS o londe,

Worso he walkeS,16 er worso he wuneS,17
Ilk der Se him hereS to him cumeS,

And folegeS him upon 18 Se wold, 25

For Se swetnesse Se Ic gu have told.

De dragunes one 19 ne stiren nout
Wiles 20 te panter rameS ogt,21

1 bone ; MS. bro

2 whale

3 MS. miS

* fashioned

6 round

* wheel

7 MS. itt (em. M.)

8 choice, best

9 himself

1° afterwards

11 roars

12 loud as

13 balsam
n to you

15 wheresoever

16 MS. walked
V dwells

1® MS. upone

19 alone

20 while

21 anything, at all

320

RELIGIOUS AND DIDACTIC PIECES

Oc daren 1 stille in here pit,

Als so 2 he weren of dehe 8 offrigt.4

Significacio . Crist is tokned hurg his der,
Wos kinde 5 we haven told gu her ;

S For he is faier over alle men,

So evensterre over erhe fen 6 ;

Ful wel he taunede 7 his luve to man
Wan he hurg holi spel him wan ;

And longe he lai her in an hole — •
io Wel him hat 8 he it wulde holen 9 :

Dre daies slep he al onon,10
Danne he ded was in blod and bon.

Up he ros, and remede hvis 11 —

Of helle pine, of hevene blis —

1 5 And steg 12 to hevene uvemest 18 ;

Der wuneh wih Fader and Holi Cast.

Amonges men a swete smel 14
He let herof — his holi spel,10
Worhurg we mugen folgen him
20 Into his godcundnesse 16 fin.17

And hat wirm,18 ure widerwine 19 —

Worso 20 of Codes word is dine 21
Ne dar he stiren, ne no man deren,22
De 23 while he 24 lage 26 and luve beren.

1 crouch, cower

2 if

3 death ; MS. dede

4 frightened
6 nature

6 mire

7 manifested

8 MS. dat

9 endure

1° uninterruptedly
n MS. in wis (em. M.)

12 ascended

13 on high ; MS. uvenest (em. M.)

14 MS. mel. (em. M.)

15 teaching

16 divinity’s

it utmost reach
18 serpent

19 adversary
28 whereso

21 mention {lit. din) ; MS. hine

22 injure

23 MS. her (em. M.)

24 they

25 law

THE OWL AND THE NIGHTINGALE

321

THE OWL AND THE NIGHTINGALE

The Owl and the Nightingale is the earliest specimen in English of the true
contention-poem — a verbal contest for supremacy — analogous to the Latin,
French, and Provencal parttmen , tenson, plait, jen-parti, etc. Its main subject,
after the opening personalities, is joy and aestheticism, represented by the
nightingale, as opposed to practicality and seriousness, represented by the
owl. In Fritz Reuter’s Hanne Niite (Part 9), the sparrow and the nightingale
contrast their modes of life :

' Gu’n Abend, Jochen,’ seggt sei, 'na?

Ik bun tauriigg ut Afrika.’ — •

' J a,’ segg ik, ' siillst di brav wat schamen,

So in de Welt heriim tau striken,

Bliw hir bi uns, bi dinesgliken !

An Lotten kannst en Bispill nemen,

De brott nu all den tweiten Satz.’ —

Dunn lacht s’ un seggt : ' Mein lieber Spatz,

Dein Lotting ist ein braves Weib,

Un Essen kochen, Striimpfe kniitten,

Un Junge aus die Eier sitten
Ist sicher auch ein Zeitvertreib ;

Doch wir, die in der Poesie
Die Aufgab’ unsres Lebens finnen,

Wir Kiinstler und wir Sangerinnen,

Wir kniitten, Jochen, un briiten nie.’

' In a group of poets that were active in the South of England at the begin¬
ning of the thirteenth century, the author of The Owl and the Nightingale stands
preeminent. Of striking vigor and originality of mind, possessing a sane
critical judgment founded on a considerable culture, and endowed with aston¬
ishing poetical gifts for his time and environment, he produced a composition
that seems the earliest, and from many points of view the best, original long
poem of a wholly imaginative character written in English before the time
of Chaucer ’ (Wells’ ed., p. xxxvii). Elsewhere Wells says : ' Theme and treat¬
ment grew out of the poet’s own immediate experience. . . . The poem is nota¬
ble in its period for its embodiment of the distinctly national tone and spirit
that were beginning to grow out of the amalgamation of the French and the
English, the learned and the popular, in the island.’ This author’s identity is
unknown ; it would seem probable that he is not the Nicholas of Guildford
chosen by the disputants as judge.

The poem is found in two manuscripts. Our selection (made with the kind
permission of the publishers, Messrs. D. C. Heath & Co.) is from John Edwin
Wells’ reproduction of MS. Brit. Mus. Cotton Caligula A. 9, which belongs to
the first half of the thirteenth century, with his emendations, and a few of my
own. The selection includes lines 1-94, 101-285, 287-348.

322

RELIGIOUS AND DIDACTIC PIECES

Ich was in one sumere 1 dale,

In one supe 2 digele 8 hale,4

Iherde Ich holde grete tale5

An hide 6 and one 7 nigtingale.

pat plait 8 was stif and stare 9 and strong,

Sum wile 10 softe and lud 11 among 12 ;

An 13 aiper agen oper sval,14
And let pat wole 15 mod 16 ut al.

And eiper seide of operes custe 17
pat alreworste 18 pat hi wuste ;

And hure and hure 19 of opere[s] songe,
Hi holde plaiding 20 supe stronge.

pe nigtingale bigon pe speche
In one hurne 21 of one beche,22
And sat up [on] one vaire boge,23
par were abute blosme inoge,

In ore 24 waste 25 picke hegge,

Imeind 26 mid spire 27 and grene segge.
Ho 28 was pe gladur vor pe rise,29
And song a vele 80 cunne wise 31 :

Bet 32 pugte pe dreim 83 pat he were
Of harpe and pipe pan he nere,

Bet pugte pat he were ishote 34
Of harpe and pipe pan of prote.

po stod on old stoc 85 par biside,
par po ule song hire tide,80

1 a certain

2 very

3 secluded

4 out of the way spot

5 dispute

6 owl

7 a

8 debate

9 severe, sharp

10 sometimes

11 loud

12 at intervals

13 and

25 solitary

26 mingled
2" tall grass
28 she

14 grew swollen with wrath

15 evil

16 mood

l" character

18 very worst

19 at all events

20 debate

29 twig, branch

30 in many

31 kinds of ways

32 rather (better); MS.het (em.W.)

21 corner, nook

22 valley ; MS. breche
28 a fair bough

24 a

33 seemed the music
S4 shot, poured forth

85 stump

86 at her time, when her time came

THE OWL AND THE NIGHTINGALE

And was mid ivi al bigrowe :

Hit was fare hide earding-stowe.1

~pe nijtingale hi iseg,2
And hi bihold and overseg,3
And f ujte wel wl 4 * of fare hule,

For me hi halt6 lodlich and fule.6
' Unwijt,7 ’ ho sede, ' awei ]m flo 8 1
Me is fe wrs9 fat Ich fe so.10
Iwis for fine wle 11 lete 12
Wel oft Ich mine song forlete 13 ;

Min horte atflif,14 and fait 15 mi tonge,
Wonne fu art to me ifrunge.16
Me luste bet speten 17 fane singe,

Of 18 fine fule jojelinge.19 ’

]?os 20 hule abod fort 21 hit was eve,
Ho ne mijte no leng22 bileve,28
Vor hire horte was so gret
]?at wel nej hire fnast 24 atschet,25
And warp 26 a word 27 f arafter longe :

* Hu f inc[f] f e 28 nu bi mine songe ?
We[n]st fu29 fat Ich ne cunne singe,
J^eg Ich ne cunne of writelinge 80 ?

[Oft and] dome 81 fu dest me grame,82
And seist me bof e tone 88 and schame.
^if Ich fe holde on mine vote 84 —

So hit bitide 36 fat Ich mote ! —

1 the owl’s dwelling-place

2 saw her

3 looked at with scorn

4 evilly

6 men consider her

6 loathsome and foul

1 monster

8 flee (imp.)

9 worse

10 see

11 evil

12 behavior, noise

13 abandon, stop

14 flees away

15 falters

is pressed close, drawn close
1? I would rather spit
1® because of
i® guggling

20 this

21 until

22 longer

23 remain silent

24 breath

25 shot away, burst forth

26 poured out (lit. threw)

2" speech

28 seems it to you

29 do you suppose
39 trilling

81 often

32 harm, injury

33 reproach

34 foot

35 would that it might happen

RELIGIOUS AND DIDACTIC PIECES

324

And fu were ut of fine rise,
pu sholdest singe an ofer w[i]se.1 ’
pe nigtingale gaf answare :

' ^if Ich me loki 2 * wit fe bare,8
And me schilde wit fe blete,4 *
Ne reche Ich nogt of fine frete :

^if Ich me holde in mine hegge,

Ne recche Ich never what fu segge.6
Ich wot fat f u art unmilde 6
Wif horn 7 fat ne muge from fe 8 schilde •
And fu tukest 9 wrofe 10 and uvele
Whar fu migt over smale fugele.11
Vorfi12 fu art lof 13 al fuel-kunne,14
And alle ho 15 f e drivef honne,16
And fe bischrichef 17 and bigredet,18
And wel narewe 19 f e biledet 20 ;

And ek forfe 21 fe sulve mose,22
Hire fonkes,28 wolde fe totose.24
pu art lodlich to biholde,

And fu art lof in monie volde 25 :
pi bodi is short, fi swore26 is smal,
Grettere is fin heved fan fu al ;
pin egene bof col-blake and brode,

Rigt swo ho weren ipeint 27 mid wode 28 ;
pu starest so 29 fu wille abiten 30
Al fat fu migt 81 mid clivre 32 smiten ;
pi bile is stif and scharp and hoked,

Rigt so an owel 83 fat is croked,

1 in another fashion

2 may protect myself

8 against the open

4 exDosure

exposure

12 therefore
18 hateful

14 bird-kind

15 they all

16 hence

17 screech at

18 cry out at
18 closely

20 pursue
24 because of that
22 the very titmouse

28 willingly

24 pull to pieces

25 in manifold ways

26 neck

27 painted

28 woad

29 as if

6 say

8 harsh

7 those

8 MS. se

9 domineer

10 angrily

11 birds

80 bite to pieces

81 might ; MS. mist

82 claws

88 just like an awl

THE OWL AND THE NIGHTINGALE

325

parmid )>u clackes[t] oft and longe,
And pat is on 1 of pine songe.

Ac pu pretest to 2 mine fleshe,

Mid pine clivres woldest me meshe.8
pe were icundur to one frogge 4 :
pat sit at mulne 6 under cogge 6 ;
Snailes, mus,7 and fule wijte,8
Bop pine cunde and pine rijte.9
pu sittest adai,10 and flig[s]t anijt,
pu cupest 11 pat pu art on unwijt.
pu art lodlich and unclene,

Bi 12 pine neste Ich hit mene,

And ek bi pine fule brode 18 —
j?u fedest on horn a wel ful fode. 14 . 0
pat oper jer 16 a faukun bredde 16 ;
His nest nojt wel he ne bihedde 17 :
parto pu stele in o18 day,

And leidest paron pi foie ey.19
po hit bicom 20 pat he hagte,21
And of his eyre 22 briddes wragte,

Ho brojte his briddes mete,

Bihold his nest, iseg hi 23 ete :

He iseg bi one halve 24
His nest ifuled uthalve.25
pe faucun was wrop wit his bridde,
And lude gal 26 and sterne chidde :

" Segget me, wo27 havet pis ido ?

Ou nas never icunde 28 parto ;

1 one

2 make threats against
8 crush to a pulp

4 it would be more suitable

thy deserts

10 by day

11 knowest

12 concerning
18 brood

14 thou feedest in them a very

9 are for thy kind and fit for

18 one

19 foul egg

20 when it happened

21 it (the falcon) hatched

22 its eggs

28 watched them

24 on one side

25 on the outer part

26 cried out aloud
2? who

28 innate, natural

for you to have a frog

(for food)

5 the mill

6 cog ; this line is supplied

foul lot (lit. offspring)
16 year

from J. — lacking in C.

7 mice

8 creatures

18 bred
17 guarded

326

RELIGIOUS AND DIDACTIC PIECES

Hit was idon ow a lop custe.1
Segge me gif ge hit wiste.”
po quap pat on and quad pat oper :

" Iwis it was ure oger 2 broper,
pe gond 3 pat haved pat grete heved :
Wai pat hi[t] nis parof bireved 4 !

Worp hit6 ut mid pe alre-wrste,
pat his necke him toberste ! ”
pe faucun ilefde 6 his bridde,

And nom 7 pat fule brid amidde,8
And warp hit of9 pan wilde bowe,10
]?aru pie12 and crowe hit todrowe.
Herbi men segget a bispel,18
peg hit ne bo fuliche spel 14 :

A1 so 15 hit is bi pan ungode16
pat is icumen of fule brode,

And is meind wit fro monne 17 ;

Ever he cup pat he com ponne,18

pat he com of pan adel eye,19

peg he a fro nest 20 leie.

peg appel trendli 21 from 22 pon trowe,38

par he and oper mid growe,

peg he bo 24 parfrom bicume,23

He cup wel whonene he is icume.’

pos word agaf26 pe nigtingale,

And after pare longe tale
He song so lude and so scharpe,

Rigt so me grulde 27 schille 28 harpe.

custe for MS. wiste

2 own

3 the one yonder

4 alas that he is not bereft of it

5 throw him

6 believed

' took, seized

8 by the middle

9 cast it from

1 in a disagreeable manner ;

10 bough
n where
i'2 magpies
is in fable, parable

14 long story

15 just so

is with the evil person
1” mingled with noble

19 addled egg

20 in a noble nest

21 roll (trundle)

22 MS. fron

23 tree

24 be

25 gone

26 uttered

27 as if some one were twanging

(well-born) men
is thence

28 shrill

THE OWL AND THE NIGHTINGALE

J>os hule luste 1 piderward,

And hold hire ege 2 noperwa[r]d,8
And sat tosvolle4 and ibolwe,5
Also ho hadde one frogge isuolge,6
For ho wel wiste and was iwar
}Mt ho song hire a bisemar,7
And nopeles ho gaf 8 andsuare :

' Whi neltu 9 flon into pe bare,10
And sewi 11 ware 12 unker 13 bo 14
Of brigter howe,15 of vairur bio 10 ? ’

' No, ]>u havest wel scharpe clawe,

Ne kep 17 Ich nogt ]>at )>u me clawe ;
pu havest clivers supe stronge,
pu tuengst 18 parmid so do]) a tonge.
pu pogtest, so do)) ]>ine ilike,19
Mid faire worde me biswike 20 ;

Ich nolde don |>at )>u me rad[d]est,21
Ich wiste wel pat pu me misraddest.
Schamie ]>e for pin unrede 22 !

Unwrogen 23 is pi svikelhede 24 !

Schild pine svikeldom vram pe ligte,

And hud 25 pat woge 28 amon[g] pe rigte.
Wane 27 ]>u wilt pin unrigt 28 spene,29
Loke pat hit ne bo isene,

Vor svike[l]dom haved schome and hete,30
^if hit is ope 31 and undergete.82
Ne speddestu 38 nogt mid pine unwrenche,84

327

1 listened

12 MS. bare

18 which (whether) of us two

24 treachery

25 hide

2 eyes
8 cast down

4 swollen with anger

5 puffed with wrath

6 swallowed

7 in scorn of her

8 MS. jas (/penciled in

14 is

15 hue

1° complexion, appearance (bloom)
17 care, wish
48 press tightly, nip

19 as do those of thy sort

20 to deceive, betray

21 counseled

22 ill advice
28 revealed

29 wrong

27 MS. bane

28 injustice, wrong

29 spend, show forth
80 hate

81 open, apparent

32 perceived

33 you did not succeed

margin)

9 will you not
40 the open
11 show

34 trick

328

RELIGIOUS AND DIDACTIC PIECES

For Ich am war,1 and can wel blenche.2
Ne helpp nogt pat pu bo to [pjriste 8 :

Ich wolde vigte bet mid liste 4
pan pu mid al pine strengpe.

Ich habbe on brede6 and ech on lengpe
Castel god on mine rise ;

" Wel figt pat wel fligt,” 6 seip pe wise.

Ac lete we awei pos cheste,7
Vor suiche wordes bop unwreste 8 ;

And fo we on 9 mid rigte dome,10
Mid faire worde and mid ysome.11
peg we ne bo at one acorde,

We muge bet mid fayre worde,

Witute cheste, and bute figte,

Plaidi 12 mid foge 13 and mid rigte,

And mai hure 14 eiper wat hi wile
Mid rigte segge and mid sckile.’

po quap pe hule : ' Wu 15 schal us seme,16
pat kunne and wille rigt us deme 17 ? ’

' Ich wot wel,’ quap pe nigtingale,

' Ne paref 18 parof bo no tale.19
Maister Nichole of Guldeforde,20
He is wis an war of worde ;

He is of dome supe gleu,21
And him is lop evrich unpeu.22
He wot insigt in 23 eche songe —

Wo singet wel, wo singet wronge ;

And he can schede 24 vrom pe rigte
pat woge,25 pat puster 26 from pe ligte.’

1 wary, cautious

2 avoid by shrinking
8 bold

4 cunning
6 breadth

8 cf. Proverbs of Hendyng ,

st. io (Harl. MS.)

1 let us be done with this strife

8 unavailing; MS. unwerste

9 let us begin

10 judgment

11 peaceable

12 debate

13 propriety

14 of us

15 who ; MS. )>u

16 reconcile

17 judge

18 need

19 dispute

20 Nicholas of Guildford, spoken
of in lines 1752-3 of the
poem as living at Port-
esham, in Dorset

21 wise, prudent

22 vice, bad habit

23 has intelligence in, knows

24 separate, distinguish
26 wrong

26 darkness

THE OWL AND THE NIGHTINGALE

329

Ipo hule one wile hi bij’o^te,1
And after ban )>is word upbrojte :

' Ich grand wel ]>at he us deme,

Vor fe^ he were wile 2 breme,8
And lof 4 him were nijtingale,

And o)>er wigte 5 gente and smale,

Ich wot he is nu su]>e acoled.6
Nis he vor be nojt afoled,7
}">at he, for ]dne olde luve,

Me adun 8 legge 9 and be buve ;

Ne schaltu nevre so him queme10
J’at he for be fals dom deme.

He is him ripe 11 and fastrede,12
Ne lust 13 him nu to none unrede 14 ;

Nu him ne lust na more pleie,

He wile gon a 16 rigte weie.’

]?e nijtingale was al jare,16
Ho hadde domed 17 wel aiware 18 ;

' Hule,’ ho sede, ' seie me so]’,

Wi dostu bat unwinds 19 dob ?

J?u singist anijt and nojt adai,

And al bi song is " Wailawai ! ”

J?u mi^t mid bine songe afere 20
Alle bat ihereb bine ibere 21 ;

]?u schrichest 22 and jollest 28 to June fere,24
]?at hit is grislich 25 to ihere ;

Hit bincheb 26 bobe wise and snepe,27
Nojt bat ]’u singe, ac bat ]m wepe.
pu flijst anijt and nogt adai ;

1 bethought herself for

a time

2 at one time

8 spirited, passionate

4 dear

5 creatures

6 much cooled
~ befooled

8 below

9 would place (lay)

1° please
n mature
12 of firm purpose
48 pleases

14 unwise action

15 in

1° ready
17 learned

48 nearly everywhere (OE.
(Zghivcer )

19 monsters

20 terrify

21 noise, clamor

22 screechest; MS. schirchest
28 call out

24 companion

25 horrible

26 MS. binchest

2” to wise and to foolish

330

RELIGIOUS AND DIDACTIC PIECES

parof Ich wndri,1 and wel mai,

Vor evrich ping pat schuniet2 rijt,

Hit luvep f>uster and hatiet 3 ligt ;

And evrich ping pat is lof misdede,4
Hit luvep puster to 6 his dede.

A wis word, pej hit bo unclene,

Is fele manne 6 a mupe 7 imene,8
For Alvred King hit seide and wrot :

" He schunet pat hine wl wot.9 ”

Ich wene pat pu dost also,

Vor pu flijst nijtes evermo.

Anoper ping me is awene 10 —
pu havest anijt wel bri^te sene 11 ;

Bi daie pu art stareblind,12
pat pu ne sichst ne bo[u] ne rind.13
Adai pu art blind oper bisne,14
parbi men segget a uorbisne :

" Rijt so hit farp bi pan ungode,
pat nojt ne sup to 10 none gode,

And is so ful of uvele wrenche 16
pat him ne mai no man atwrenche,17
And can 18 wel pane 19 pustre 20 wai,

And pane brijte lat awai.21 ”

So dop pat bop 22 of pine cunde,

Of lijte nabbep hi none imunde.23 ’
pos hule luste supe longe,

And was oftoned 24 sup[e] stronge.

Ho quap: ' pu [h]attest 25 nigtingale ;
pu mijtest bet hoten 26 galegale,27

1 wonder

2 shuns
8 hates

4 to which evil-doing is dear

5 for

6 of many men

7 in the mouths

8 commonly

9 that which knows him to

be foul

1° is in my thoughts

11 power of vision

12 purblind

13 see neither bough nor bark

14 of dim sight

16 looks toward
13 guile, trickery

17 evade, elude; MS.-prenche
48 knows

18 the

20 dark ; MS. burste
24 abandons the bright one

22 those that are

23 thought

24 irritated

25 are called

28 better be called
27 chatterbox

THE OWL AND THE NIGHTINGALE

Vor }m havest to monie tale.1
Lat June tunge habbe spale 2 1
pu wenest hat ]’es dai bo pin oje 8 ;

Lat me nu habbe mine ]>roge 4 ;

Bo nu stille and lat me speke,

Ich wille bon of )>e awreke.5
And lust 6 hu Ich con me bitelle,7
Mid rijte so]>e, witute spelle.8
pu seist pat Ich me hude adai,
parto ne segge Ich nich ne nai9 ;

And lust, Ich telle he warevore,

A1 \vi hit is and warevore.

Ich habbe bile stif and stronge,

And gode clivers scharp and longe,

So hit bicumeh 10 to havekes cunne ;

Hit is min hijte,11 hit is mi wune,12
pat Ich me draje 13 to mine cunde,

Ne mai [me] no man harevore schende 14 ;
On me hit is wel isene,

Vor rijte cunde 15 Ich am so kene.

Vorhi Ich am lop smale fojle 16
pat flo]’ bi 17 grunde an bi ]’uvele 18 :

Hi me bichermet19 and bigrede]’,20
And hore 21 flockes to me ledep
Me is lof to habbe reste,

And sitte stille in mine neste ;

Vor nere Ich never no ]>e betere,

^if22 Ich mid chavling23 and mid chatere
Horn schende, and mid fule worde. . . .
Ne lust me 24 wit he screwen 28 chide,26

33i

25.

1 tales

2 respite, rest
8 own

4 turn

5 avenged

6 listen

7 justify

8 a long story

9 no nor nay

18 turn me
14 blame, revile
18 from very nature
18 to small birds
I7 near
13 bushes

1° is fitting

11 joy

12 delight

19 scream at

20 cry out upon

21 their

22 MS. Ef
28 scolding

24 it does not please me

25 evil persons

26 to contend

1 5

332 RELIGIOUS AND DIDACTIC PIECES

Forfi Ich wende 1 from hom wide.2
Hit is a wise monne dome,8
And hi hit segget wel ilome,4
pat me ne 6 chide wit fe gidie,8
Ne wit fan ofne7 me ne gonie.8
At sume sife herde I telle
Hu Alvred sede on his spelle 9 :

" Loke fat fu ne bo fare

par 10 chavling bof and cheste gare ;

Lat sottes 11 chide, and vorf fu go ” ;

And Ich am wis, and do also.

And jet Alvred seide, an ofer side,12
A word fat is isprunge 18 wide :

" pat wit fe fule havef imene,14
Ne cumef he never from him cleine.”
Wenestu fat haveck bo fe worse
pog crowe bigrede 15 him bi fe mershe,
And gof to him mid hore chirme 16
Rigt so hi wille wit him schirme 17 ?
pe havec folgef gode rede,18
And fligt his wei, and lat him19 grede.20
<^et fu me seist of ofer finge,

And telst fat Ich ne can nogt singe,

Ac al mi rorde 21 is woning,22
And to ihire grislich 23 f ing.
pat nis nogt sof, Ich singe efne,24
Mid fulle dreme23 and lude stefne.26
pu wenist 27 fat ech song bo grislich

1 turn

n fools

20 cry out

2 far

12 on the other hand

21 speech

8 in the judgment of wise men

18 spread

22 lamenting

4 often

I4 he who has companionship

28 horrible

5 they do not

with the foul

24 evenly

6 foolish

15 cry out upon

25 melody

7 oven, furnace

16 uproar

26 voice

8 yawn

17 fight

27 thinkest

9 instruction

78 counsel

1° where

19 MS. hem

THE OWL AND THE NIGHTINGALE

333

1 is not like

2 MS. blod

3 feeble
* weed

5 in the evening,

proper time

6 MS. ad

pat fine pipinge nis ilich.1
Mi stefne is bold 2 and nogt unorne,8
Ho is ilich one grete home,

And fin is ilich one pipe

Of one smale wode 4 unripe. 5

Ich singe bet fan fu dest ;
pu chaterest so dof on Irish prost.

Ich singe an eve, a rigte time,4
And soffe won hit is bedtime,

pe fridde sife at6 middelnigte; io

And so Ich mine song adigte 7
Wone Ich iso 8 arise vorre 9
Ofer dairim 10 ofer daisterre.

Ich do god mid mine frote,

And warni men to hore note.11 15

Ac fu singest alle longe nigt,

From eve fort 12 hit is dailigt,

And evre seist fin o song
So longe so fe nigt is long ;

And evre crowef fi wrecche crei,13 20

pat he ne swikef 14 nigt ne dai.

Mid fine pipinge fu adunest 15
J?as monnes earen far fu wunest,

And makest fine song so unwrf 16

pa[t] me ne telf of far nog[t] wrf.17 25

Evrich murgfe 18 mai so longe ileste,

pat ho shal liki 19 wel unwreste,20

Vor harpe, and pipe, and fugeles songe

Mislikef, gif hit is to long.

Ne bo fe song never so murie, 30

' arrange, prepare

8 see

9 afar

1° daybreak

the 11 profit, advantage

12 until

13 crying

14 ceases

15 dinnest
unworthy

17 that men set no store by it

18 joy

19 please

20 ill

334

RELIGIOUS AND DIDACTIC PIECES

pat he ne shal finche 1 wel unmurie 2 3
^ef he ileste[> 8 over wille 4 ;

So J?u mijt pine song aspille.6

PIERS THE PLOWMAN

Until 1906, the work called The Vision (rather, Book) of William concerning
Piers Ihe Plowman had been for a generation attributed, on the faith of two
fifteenth-century memoranda, to William Langland, or Langley, whom Skeat
believed to have been born about 1332, and to have died about 1400. Three
texts of the poem have been printed, of which the second and third (known as
B and C) are revisions and extensions of the first (A). The dates assigned to
these are : A, 1362 ; B, 1377 ; C, after 1390 (probably about 1398). The A-text
has 2567 lines, the B-text 7242, and the C-text 7357. All have been edited by
Skeat in two volumes (Oxford, 1886).

Professor John M. Manly presents his view, which differs in many respects
from that hitherto received, in the Cambridge History of English Literature,
Vol. 2. According to him, the twelve cantos, or passus, contained in A, were
the work of two different authors, of whom the second wrote Passus 9-12,
while B and C represent two revisions, so that there would have been four
authors; but since he finds 61 lines at the end of the A-text (12. 57-105, and
12 lines not given in Skeat’s large edition, 1. 331) to have been written by a
certain John But (or Butt), the whole number of authors would be five.

On the theory of the single authorship, Jusserand has an illuminating
chapter in Vol. 1 of his Literary History of the English People. For a general
bibliography, see Camb. Hist. Eng. Lit. 2. 490-7.

The passages given below are all from the B-text. They differ so incon¬
siderably from the A-text that Manly’s characterization of the style of the latter
sufficiently holds concerning them (op. cit. p. 13) : 'As to the style, no summary
or paraphrase can reproduce its picturesqueness and verve. It is always
simple, direct, evocative of a constant series of clear and sharply-defined
images of individuals and groups. Little or no attempt is made at elaborate,
or even ordinarily full, description, and color-words are singularly few ; but it
would be difficult to find a piece of writing from which the reader derives a
clearer vision of individuals or groups of moving figures in their habit as they
lived. That the author was endowed in the highest degree with the faculty of
visualization is proved, not merely by his ability to stimulate the reader to form
mental images, but even more by the fact that all the movements of individuals
and groups can be followed with ease and certainty. Composition, in the
larger sense of structural excellence, that quality common in French literature,

1 seem 4 beyond (the point of) pleasure ; MS. unwille

2 unpleasing 5 spoil

3 lasts

PIERS THE PLOWMAN 335

but all too rare in English, and supposed to be notably lacking in Hers the
Plowman, is one of the most striking features.’

Our text is from Skeat’s smaller edition, based on MS. Laud 5S1, with
certain omitted lines supplied from the large edition ; with the omission of the
dots which mark the middle of lines ; and with changes in punctuation,
capitalization, and the joining of words. The lines quoted are Prol. 1-122;
3. 1-129, 133-6S; 5. 304-46, 352-9, 364-71 ; 5. 392-47S; 6. 107-53.

PROLOGUE

In a somer seson, whan soft was the sonne,

I shope 1 me in shroudes,2 * as I a shepe 8 were ;

In habite as an heremite, unholy of workes,

Went wyde in pis world, wondres to here.

Ac on a May mornynge, on Malverne hulles,4 5

Me byfel a ferly 5 — of fairy, me thoujte ;

I was wery, forwandred,6 and went me to reste
Under a brode banke, bi a homes7 side;

And as I lay and lened, and loked in pe wateres,

I slombred in a slepyng — it sweyved 8 so merye. 10

Thanne gan I to meten 9 a merveilouse swevene,

That I was in a wildernesse — wist I never where ;

As I bihelde into pe est, an hiegh 10 to |>e sonne,

I seigh a toure on a toft,11 trielich 12 ymaked ;

A depe dale binethe, a dongeon ]iereinne, 15

With depe dyches and derke, and dredful of sight.

A faire felde ful of folke fonde I there bytwene,

Of alle maner of men — pe mene and pe riche —

Worchyng and wandryng, as )>e worlde asketh.18

Some putten hem 14 to jie plow, pleyed ful selde 13 ; 20

In settyng 16 and in sowyng swonken 17 ful harde,

And wonnen that 18 wastours 19 with glotonye destruyeth.

1 robed

2 rough garments

8 shepherd

4 hills ; the Malvern hills are

in Worcestershire, on the
border of Herefordshire

5 marvel

8 worn out with wandering
1 bum’s, brook’s

8 rippled

9 dream
1° on high
11 hilltop

l'2 excellently

18 requires, demands

14 set themselves

15 seldom
1® planting
It labored

18 gained what

19 spendthrifts

336

RELIGIOUS AND DIDACTIC PIECES

And some putten hem to pruyde — apparailed hem hereafter 1 ;
In contenaunce 2 * of clothyng comen disgised.

In prayers and in penance putten hem manye,

A1 for love of owre Lorde lyveden ful streyte,8
5 In hope for to have heveneriche4 5 blisse ;

As ancres 6 and heremites that holden hem in here selles,

And coveiten nought in contre to kairen aboute 6
For no likerous liflode,7 her lykam 8 to plese.

And somme chosen chaffare 9 ; they cheven 10 the bettere —
io As it semeth to owre sygt that suche men thryveth ;

And somme murthes to make, as mynstralles conneth,11
And geten gold with here glee — giltles, I leve.12
Ac japers13 and jangelers,14 Judas chylderen,

Feynen hem fantasies, and foies hem maketh,

15 And han here witte at wille, to worche, gif Jei sholde ;

That Poule precheth of hem I nel nought preve it here :

Qui turpiloquium loquitur is Luciferes hyne.15

Bidders 16 and beggeres fast aboute gede,17
With her belies and her bagges of bred ful ycrammed ;

20 Fayteden 18 for here fode, fougten atte ale ;

In glotonye, God it wote, gon hii to bedde,

And risen with ribaudye,19 tho Roberdes knaves ;

Slepe and sori sleuthe20 seweth21 hem evre.

Pilgrymes and palmers pligted hem togidere
25 To seke Seynt James,22 and seyntes in Rome.

Thei went forth in here wey, with many wise tales,

1 accordingly

2 outward appearance

8 strictly

4 of the kingdom of heaven

5 anchorites

6 go about

7 dainty living

8 body

9 a merchant’s life

10 achieved, prospered

11 know how to do
42 believe

18 jesters

14 jongleurs

15 servant

16 beggars

17 went

18 begged deceitfully
49 ribaldry, sin

20 sloth
24 pursue

22 St. James of Compostella

17. Qui . . . loquitur: this is not from St. Paul; but it bears some resem¬
blance to Eph. 5. 4 and Col. 3. 8.

22. Roberdes knaves : the so-called Roberts men were robbers and vaga¬
bonds (perhaps originally Robin Hood’s men).

PIERS THE PLOWMAN

337

And hadden leve to lye al here lyf after.

I seigh somme that seiden }>ei had ysoujt seyntes ;

To eche a tale pat pei tolde here tonge was tempred to lye
More pan to sey soth, it semed bi here speche.

Heremites on an heep,1 with hoked staves, 5

Wenten to Walsyngham,2 and here wenches after ;

Crete lobyes 3 and longe, that loth were to swynke,

Clotheden hem in copis,4 to ben knowen fram othere,

And shopen 5 hem heremites, here ese to have.

I fonde pere freris — alle pe foure ordres 10

Preched pe peple for profit of hemselven ;

Closed 6 pe gospel as hem good lyked,7

For coveitise of copis construed it as pei wolde.

Many of pis maistres freris mowe clothen hem at lykyng,

For here money and marchandise marchen togideres ; 15

For sith Charite hap be chapman,8 and chief to shryve lordes,

Many ferlis han fallen in a fewe jeris.

But 9 Holy Chirche and hii holde better togideres,

The most myschief on molde 10 is mountyng wel faste.

}?ere preched a pardonere, as he a prest were ; 20

Broujte forth a bulle 11 with bishopes seles,

And seide pat hymself myjte assoilen 12 hem alle
Of falshed, of fastyng, of vowes ybroken.

Lewed men leved hym wel, and lyked his wordes ;

Comen up knelyng, to kissen his bulles ; 25

He bonched 13 hem with his brevet,14 and blered here eyes,

And raujte 15 with his ragman 16 rynges and broches ;

Thus pey geven here golde, glotones to kepe,

1 in great numbers

2 to the shrine of Our Lady

of Walsingham — a popu¬
lar pilgrimage
8 lubbers

4 friars’ capes or cloaks

5 made

6 glossed, commented on
1 pleased them well
8 love has become a trades¬
man
8 unless
1° on the earth
n a papal bull

12 absolve
18 banged, beat
14 letter of indulgence
16 obtained
16 bull

10. four ordres : the four orders of friars were the Carmelites (white
friars), Augustines (Austin friars), Dominicans (black friars), and Minorites
(gray friars).

33§

RELIGIOUS AND DIDACTIC PIECES

And leveth1 such loseles2 3 pat lecherye haunten.8
Were pe bischop yblissed,4 and worth bothe his eres,

His seel shulde nou^t be sent to deceyve pe peple ;

Ac it is naujt by 5 pe bischop pat pe boy precheth,

For the parisch prest and pe pardonere parten pe silver
That pe poraille 6 of pe parisch sholde have, gif pei nere.7

Persones 8 and parisch prestes pleyned hem to pe bischop
pat here parisshes were pore, sith pe pestilence-tyme,

To have a lycence and a leve at London to dwelle,

And syngen pere for symonye — for silver is swete.

Bischopes and bachelers,9 bothe maistres and doctours,
pat han cure 10 under Criste, and crounyng 11 in tokne
And signe pat pei sholden shryven here paroschienes,
Prechen and prey for hem, and pe pore fede,

Liggen in London — in Lenten, an elles.12
Somme serven pe kyng, and his silver tellen 18 ;

In Cheker 14 and in Chancerye chalengen 15 his dettes
Of wardes 16 and wardmotes,17 weyves and streyves.18
And some serven as servantz lordes and ladyes,

And in stede of stuwardes sytten and demen.19
Here messe and here matynes, and many of here oures,20
Arn don undevoutlych ; drede is at pe laste
Lest Crist in consistorie 21 acorse ful manye.

I parceyved of pe power pat Peter had to kepe,

To bynde and to unbynde, as pe boke telleth,22
How he it left wip love, as owre Lorde hight,28
Amonges foure vertues — pe best of all vertues,
pat cardinales ben called, and closyng gatis 24 —

1 believe

2 wretches (vagabonds)

3 practise

4 a holy (blessed) man

5 concerning

6 poor people

7 if it were not for them

8 parsons

9 young men

10 a charge

11 the tonsure

12 and at other times
18 count

14 the court of the Exchequer

15 claim

16 wardships
47 ward-courts

18 waifs and strays — aban¬

doned property or that
for which there were
no heirs

19 judge

20 canonical hours

21 court, tribunal ; here, Last

Judgment

22 Matt. 16. t9

23 bade

24 with power to close gates,

because 'cardinal’ is de¬
rived from cardo, a
hinge

PIERS THE PLOWMAN

339

pere Crist is in kyngdome to close and to shutte,

And to opne it to hem, and hevene blisse shewe.

Ac of pe cardinales atte courte 1 pat caugt of 2 pat name,
And power presumed in hem a Pope to make,
lo han pat power pat Peter hadde, inpugnen I nelle,8
For in love and letterure 4 pe eleccioun bilongeth ;

F orpi I can and can naugte 6 of courte speke more.

panne come ]>ere a kyng — knygthod hym ladde ;

Migt of he comunes made hym to regne ;

And panne cam Kynde Wytte,6 and clerkes he made,

For to conseille pe kyng, and pe comune save.

The kyng and knygthode, and clergye bothe,

Casten 7 pat pe comune shulde hemself fynde.8
pe comune contreved 9 of Kynde Witte craftes,

And for profit of alle pe poeple, plowmen ordeygned,

To tilie 10 and travaile, as Trewe Lyf askep.

pe kynge and pe comune, and Kynde Witte pe thridde,

Shope 11 lawe and lewte — eche man to knowe his owne.

MEED THE MAIDEN

Now is Mede 12 pe mayde, and na mo of hem alle,
With bedellus 13 and wip bayllyves brougt bifor pe kyng.
The kyng called a clerke — can I nougt his name —

To take Mede pe mayde, and make hire at ese.

' I shal assaye hir myself, and sothelich appose 14
What man of pis molde pat hire were leveste 15 ;

And if she worche bi my witte, and my wille folwe,

I wil forgyve hir pis gilte, so me God help ! ’
Curteysliche pe clerke panne, as pe kyng hight,

at the court of Rome
received

I will not raise question
learning

can because of what he
knows, but cannot be¬
cause of his reverence

6 common sense 11 created

1 contrived 12 bribery, ' graft ’

8 provide food for themselves 18 beadles, summoners

9 devised n inquire

10 till, cultivate 15 dearest

340

RELIGIOUS AND DIDACTIC PIECES

Toke Mede bi fe middel,1 and broujte hir into chaumbre,

And fere was myrthe and mynstralcye, Mede to plese.

They fat wonyeth in Westmynstre worschiped hir alle,
Gentelliche, wif joye ; fe justices somme 2 3
5 Busked 8 hem to fe boure 4 5 fere f e birde 6 dwelled,

To conforte hire kyndely, by clergise 6 leve,

And seiden : ' Mourne nought, Mede, ne make fow no sorwe
For we wil wisse 7 fe kynge, and fi wey shape
To be wedded at fi wille, and where fe leve liketh,8
io For al Conscience caste9 or craft, as I trowe ! ’

Mildeliche Mede fanne mercyed 10 hem alle
Of feire gret goodnesse, and gaf hem uchone
Coupes 11 of clene golde, and coppis 12 of silver,

Rynges with rubies, and ricchesses manye ;

1 5 The leste man of here meyne 18 a motoun 14 of golde.

Thanne laugte 15 fei leve, fis lordes, at 16 Mede.

With that comen clerkis to conforte hir fe same,

And beden hire be blithe — ' for we beth fine owne,

For to worche fi wille fe while fow myjte laste.’

20 Hendeliche 17 heo fanne bihight 18 hem f e same,

To ' love jow lelli,19 and lordes to make,

And in fe consistorie atte courte do calle 20 gowre names ;
Shal no lewdnesse lette 21 fe leode 22 fat I lovye,

That he ne worth first avanced — - for I am biknowen 28 —

25 pere konnyng24 clerkes shul clokke25 bihynde.’

panne come fere a confessoure, Coped as a frere ;

To Mede fe mayde he mellud26 fis wordes,

And seide ful softly — in shrifte 27 as it were :

1 waist

2 some of them

3 hastened

4 bower, lady’s chamber

5 lady

6 learning’s

1 guide

8 you please

9 conscience’s contrivance

10 thanked

11 bowls

12 cups

18 household

44 a French gold coin worth

about five shillings,
stamped with the impres¬
sion of the Lamb of God

45 took
is of

17 courteously

18 promised

19 loyally

20 cause to be called

21 ignorance hinder

22 man

28 well known

24 wise, learned

25 limp, hobble

26 spoke

27 confession

PIERS THE PLOWMAN

341

' }?eig lewed men and lered 1 men had leyne by pe bothe,

And Falsenesse haved yfolwed pe al pis fyfty wyntre,

I shal assoille pe myselve for a seme 2 of whete,

And also be pi bedeman,3 and here wel pi message
Amonges knigtes and clerkis, Conscience to torne.4 ’

Thanne Mede for here mysdedes to pat man kneled,

And shrove hire of hire shrewednesse 6 — shamelees, I trowe ;
Tolde hym a tale, and toke 6 hym a noble,7
For to ben hire bedeman, and hire brokour als.8

Thanne he assoilled hir sone ; and sithen he seyde :

' We han a wyndowe a wirchyng9 wil sitten us ful heigh10 ;
Woldestow glase 11 pat gable, and grave pereinne pi name,
Siker 12 sholde pi soule be hevene to have.’

' Wist I that,’ quod pat womman, ' I wolde nougt spare
For to be gowre frende, frere, and faille gow nevre,

WhO ge love lordes pat lechery haunteth,

And lakketh nougt ladis pat loveth wel the same.

It is frelete of flesh — ge fynde it in bokes —

And a course of kynde 13 wherof we komen alle ;

Who may scape pe sklaundre,14 pe skathe 16 is sone amended ;
It is synne of pe sevene sonnest 16 relessed.17
Have mercy,’ quod Mede, ' of men pat it haunte,

And I shal kevre 18 gowre kirke, gowre cloystre do maken,
Wowes 19 do whiten, and wyndowes glasen,

Do peynten and purtraye, and paye for pe makynge,

That evry segge20 shal seyn I am sustre of gowre hous.’

Ac God to alle good folke suche gravynge defendeth,21
To writen in wyndowes of here wel 22 dedes,

1 learned

2 load

8 beadsman

4 defeat

5 sin

6 gave

7 a third of a pound sterling

8 broker also

8 in process of being made
1° cost us full dear

11 provide the glass for

12 certain

13 nature

14 disgrace

15 harm

18 soonest

17 forgiven

18 cover

19 walls
28 person

21 forbids

22 good

26. sustre : any wealthy person could belong to a religious order of friars
through a ' letter of fraternity.’

342

RELIGIOUS AND DIDACTIC PIECES

On aventure 1 pruyde be peynted pere, and pompe of pe worlde ;
For Crist knowep pi conscience and pi kynde wille,2
And pi coste,3 and pi coveitise, and who pe catel ougte.4
Forpi I lere® jow, lordes, levep suche werkes —

To writen in wyndowes of gowre wel dedes,

Or to greden 6 after Goddis men whan je delen doles ;

An aventure ge han gowre hire here,7 and goure hevene als ;

Nesciat sinistra quid faciat dextra : 8
Lat noujte )>i left half, late ne rathe,9
Wyte what pow worchest with pi rijt syde ;

For pus, bit 10 pe gospel, gode men do here almesse.

Meires 11 and maceres,12 that menes 13 ben bitwene
)?e kynge and pe comune to kepe pe lawes,

To punyschen on pillories and pynynge-stoles 14
Brewesteres 15 and bakesteres,16 bocheres and cokes ;

For pise aren men on pis molde pat moste harme worcheth
To pe pore peple pat parcelmele 17 buggen,18
For they poysoun pe peple priveliche 19 and oft ;

Thei rychen 20 porw regraterye,21 and rentes hem buggen
With pat pe pore people shulde put in here wombe 22 ;

For toke pei on 23 trewly, pei tymbred nou^t 24 so heije,

Ne boujte non burgages,25 be je ful certeyne.

Ac Mede pe mayde pe maire hath bisoujte,

Of alle suche sellers sylver to take,

Or presentz withoute pens, as peces of silver,

Ringes, or other ricchesse, pe regrateres to maynetene :

' For my love,’ quod that lady, ' love hem uch one,

And soffre hem to selle somdele26 ajeins resoun.’

1 lest perchance

2 natural disposition

3 expenses

4 who really owned the property
6 teach

6 cry after, send for

7 Matt. 6. 2

8 Matt. 6. 3

9 early
1° bids

11 mayors, magistrates

12 mace-bearers (officers of

the courts)

13 intermediaries

14 stools of punishment

15 brewers

18 bakers

17 in small quantities
48 buy

19 secretly

20 grow rich

21 selling retail

22 stomach

23 if they took in money

24 would not build

25 town-dwellings

26 somewhat

PIERS THE PLOWMAN

343

Salamon pe sage a sarmoun he made,

For to amende maires, and men pat kepen lawes,

And tolde hem pis teme,1 pat I telle thynke :

Ignis devorabit tabemacula eorum qui libenter accipiunt munera, etc.2
Amonge pis lettered ledes,3 pis Latyn is to mene
That fyre shal falle, and brenne al to bio askes 4
The houses and pe homes of hem pat desireth
^iftes or geres-gyves 5 bicause of here offices.

The kynge fro conseille cam, and called after Mede,

And ofsent 6 hir alswythe7 with serjauntes manye,

That brougten hir to bowre with blisse and with joye.

Curteisliche pe kynge panne comsed 8 to telle —

To Mede pe mayde melleth9 pise wordes :

' Unwittily, womman, wrougte hastow oft,

Ac worse wrougtestow nevre pan po 10 pow Fals toke11;

But I forgyve pe pat gilte, and graunte pe my grace ;

Hennes to pi deth-day do so na more.

I have a knygte, Conscience, cam late fro bigunde 12 ;

<£)if he wilneth pe to wyf, wyltow hym have ? ’

' ^e, lorde,’ quod fat lady, ' Lorde forbede elles !

But 18 I be holely at gowre heste, lat hange 14 me sone ! ’

And panne was Conscience calde to come and appiere
Bifor pe kynge and his conseille, as clerkes and othere.

Knelynge, Conscience to pe kynge louted,15
To wite what his wille were, and what he do shulde.

' Woltow wedde pis womman,’ quod pe kynge, ' gif I wil assente —
For she is fayne of pi felawship — for to be pi make16?’

Quod Conscience to pe kynge : ' Cryst it me forbede !

Ar 17 I wedde suche a wyf, wo me bityde !

For she is frele 18 of hir feith, fykel of here speche,

1 text, theme

2 Job 15. 34

8 persons

4 livid ashes

6 New Year’s gifts (extorted

as bribes)

8 sent after

7 as quickly as possible

8 began

9 speaks

10 when

11 took to thee Falsehood

12 across the sea
18 except

14 have me hanged

15 made obeisance

16 mate

17 before

18 frail

344

RELIGIOUS AND DIDACTIC PIECES

And maketh men mysdo many score tymes ;

Truste of hire tresore treieth 1 ful manye.

Wyves and widewes wantounes she techeth,2
And lereth 8 hem leccherye that loveth hire giftes.

S ^owre fadre she felled forw fals biheste,

And hath apoysounde Popis,4 and peired 6 Holi Cherche.

Is naugt a better baude, bi hym fat me made,

Bitwene hevene and helle — in erthe though men sougte. . . .
Sisoures 6 and sompnoures 7 — suche men hir preiseth ;
io Shireves of shires were shent gif she nere,8

For she do)’ men lese here londe and here lyf bothe.

She leteth passe prisoneres, and payeth for hem ofte,

And gyveth f e gailers golde and grotes 9 togideres,

To unfettre fe fals — fie where hym lyketh 1
15 And take)’ fe trewe bi fe toppe,10 and tieth hym faste,

And hangeth hym for hatred fat harme dede nevre.

To be cursed in consistorie she counteth nougte a russhe ;
For she copeth 11 fe comissarie, and coteth 12 his clerkis ;

She is assoilled 18 as sone as hirself liketh,

20 And may neige as moche do in a moneth one 14
As gowre secret seel in syx score dayes.

For she is prive 15 with fe Pope — - provisoures 16 it knoweth —
For Sire Symonye and hirselve seleth 17 hire bulles.

She blesseth pise bisshopes, feige fey be lewed,

25 Provendreth persones,18 and prestes meynteneth

To have lemmannes and lotebies 19 alle here lifdayes,

And bringen forth barnes agein forbode 20 lawes.

There she is wel with fe kynge wo is fe rewme,

1 betrays

2 teaches to be
8 teaches

4 poisoned Popes
6 injured
6 jurymen
' summoners

8 would be lost if it were not

for her

9 groats

10 top, head

11 provides a cope for

12 provides coats for
18 absolved

14 by herself

16 intimate

16 provisors (persons named
by the Pope for a living
not vacant)
seal

18 supports parsons

19 concubines

20 prohibitive

5. ^Jowre fadre: probably Edward II, father of Edward III (king at the
time the first version was written).

PIERS THE PLOWMAN

345

For she is favorable to Fals,1 and fouleth Trewthe ofte.

Bi Jesus, with here jeweles jowre justices she shendeth,2

And lith 3 ajein pe lawe, and letteth hym pe gate 4

That Feith may noujte have his forth,6 here 6 floreines go so pikke.

She ledeth pe lawe as hire list, and love-dayes 7 maketh, 5

And doth men lese porw hire love pat lawe myjte wynne —

J>e mase 8 for a mene man, pouj he mote 9 evre.10
Lawe is so lordeliche, and loth to make ende,

Withoute presentz or pens she pleseth wel fewe.

Barounes and burgeys she bryngeth in sorwe, 10

And alle pe comune in kare pat coveyten lyve 11 in trewthe,

For Clergye 12 and Coveitise 18 she coupleth togideres.

]?is is pe lyf of that lady — now Lorde jif hir sorwe,

And alle that meynteneth here men, meschaunce hem bityde !

For pore men mowe have no powere to pleyne 14 hem, poug pei smerte, 1 5
Suche a maistre is Mede amonge men of gode.’

GLUTTONY

Now bigynneth Gloutoun 15 for to go to schrifte,

And kaires hym 16 to kirkeward,17 his coupe 18 to schewe ;

Ac Beton pe brewestere bad hym good morwe,

And axed of hym with pat whiderward he wolde. 20

' To Holi Cherche,’ quod he, ' for to here masse,

And sithen 19 I wil be shryven, and synne na more.’

' I have gode ale, gossib,’ quod she ; ' Glotown, wiltow assaye ? ’

' Hastow augte in pi purs 20 ? — any hote spices ? ’

' I have peper and piones,21 ’ quod she, ' and a pounde of garlike, 25
A ferthyngworth of fenel-seed for fastyng-dayes.’

IMS. the fals
2 destroys
8 lies

4 hinders him tfie way

5 egress

6 her

7 days for holding court, and

settling differences

8 disappointment

9 plead, argue

10 MS. hir evre

11 desire to live

12 Learning

13 Avarice

It make complaint
1® Glutton

18 repairs him

l" to church; cf. (A.V.)2 Cor.
1. 12 ; 1 Thess. 1.8

18 guilt, sin

19 afterwards

20 pouch, wallet

21 peony-seeds

346

RELIGIOUS AND DIDACTIC PIECES

J?anne goth Glotoun in, and grete othes after ;

Cesse 1 pe souteresse 2 sat on pe benche,

Watte pe warmer3 and hys wyf bothe,

Tymme pe tynkere, and tweyne of his prentis,4 *
Hikke pe hakeneyman,6 and Hughe pe nedeler,6
Clarice of Cokkeslane,7 and pe clerke of pe cherche,

Dawe pe dykere,8 and a dozeine other ;

Sire Piers of Pridie, and Peronelle9 of Flaundres,

A ribibour,10 a ratonere,11 a rakyer of Chepe,12
A ropere,13 a redyngkyng,14 and Rose pe dissheres,10
Godfrey of Garlekehithe,16 and Gryfin pe Walshe,17
And upholderes 18 an hepe erly bi pe morwe
Geven Glotoun with glad chere good ale to hansel.19

Clement pe cobelere cast of 20 his cloke,

And atte new faire21 he nempned22 it to selle ;

Hikke pe hakeneyman hitte 23 his hood after,

And badde Bette 24 pe bochere ben on his side,
pere were chapmen ychose pis chaffare to preise 20 ;

Whoso haveth pe hood shuld have amendes of pe cloke.

Two risen up in rape,26 and rouned27 togideres,

And preised pese penyworthes apart bi hemselve ;

]?ei couth noujte bi her conscience acorden28 in treuthe,

Tyl Robyn pe ropere arose bi pe southe,

And nempned hym for a noumpere 29 — pat no debate nere —

1 short for Cicely, or Cecilia

2 woman shoemaker

3 gamekeeper

4 apprentices

6 man who keeps horses for
hire

6 needle-seller

' a region occupied by women
of ill repute

8 ditcher

9 a proverbial name for a gaily

dressed, bold-faced woman

10 player on the rebeck

11 rat-catcher

12 street-sweeper of Cheap-

side

13 rope-maker

14 retainer

15 dish-seller

16 a region on the bank of

the Thames where gar¬
lic was sold
U Welshman
48 furniture-brokers
19 as an earnest or pledge
(to propitiate him)

29 off

21 at the new fair (to chaffer

at the new fair = to
exchange)

22 named

23 threw down

24 Bartholomew

25 appraise, value
23 haste

2' whispered

28 agree

29 an umpire

i. in : Skeat suggests that the scene may be the Boar’s Head, in Eastcheap

(cf. King Henry IV).

PIERS THE PLOWMAN

347

For to trye pis chaff are bitwixen hem pre.

Hikke pe hostellere1 hadde pe cloke,

In covenaunte pat Clement shulde pe cuppe fille.

And have Hikkes hode hostellere,2 and holde hym yserved3;
And whoso repented rathest4 5 shulde arise after,

And grete Sire Glotoun with a galoun ale.

pere was laughyng and louryng,6 and ' Let go pe cuppe ! ’
And seten so til evensonge, and songen umwhile,6
Tyl Glotoun had yglobbed 7 a galoun an a jille.8 . . .

He mygte neither steppe ne stonde er he his staffe hadde ;
And panne gan he go liche a glewmannes bicche,9
Somme tyme aside, and somme tyme arrere,10
As whoso leyth lynes for to lacche foules.11
And whan he drowgh to pe dore, panne dymmed his eighen ;
He stumbled on pe thresshewolde, an threwe 12 to pe erthe.
Clement pe cobelere caugte hym bi pe myddel,

For to lifte hym alofte, and leyde him on his knowes.13. . .

With al pe wo of pis worlde, his wyf and his wenche
Baren hym home to his bedde, and broujte hym perinne ;
And after al pis excesse, he had an accidie,14
p>at he slepe Saterday and Sonday til sonne ^ede 15 to reste.
panne waked he of his wynkyng,16 and wiped his eyghen ;
pe fyrste worde pat he warpe 17 was : ' Where is pe bolle 18 ? ’
His wif gan edwite 19 hym po how wikkedlich he lyved,

And Repentance rigte so rebuked hym pat tyme.

1 an innkeeper (who also let

horses for hire ; cf. 346
.5, 16)

2 the hood of Hikke the

innkeeper
8 contented

4 soonest

5 scowling

6 at intervals

7 gulped down

8 giU

9 a (blind) minstrel’s dog
1° backwards

11 catch birds

12 fell

13 knees

n fit of sloth

15 went

16 slumber
i” uttered

18 cup, bowl
49 reproach

348

RELIGIOUS AND DIDACTIC PIECES

SLOTH THE PARSON

J>anne come Sleuthe 1 al bislabered,1 2 with two slymy eigen,

' I most sitte,’ seyde pe segge,3 * or elles shulde I nappe ;

I may nougte stonde ne stoupe, ne withoute a stole 4 knele.

Were I brougte abedde, . . .

5 Sholde no ryngynge do me ryse ar I were rype to dyne.’

He bygan ' Benedicite ’ with a bolke,5 and his brest knocked,

And roxed 6 and rored, and rutte 7 atte laste.

' What ! awake, renke8 ! ’ quod Repentance, ' and rape9 )>e to shrifte.1
' If I shulde deye bi 10 pis day, me liste 11 nougte to loke ;
io I can nougte perfidy my Pater Noster, as ]>e prest it syngeth,

But I can rymes of Robyn Hood, and Randolf Erie of Chestre,12
Ac neither of owre Lorde ne of owre Lady, }>e leste pat evere was made.

I have made vowes fourty, and forgete hem on }>e morne ;

I parfourned 18 nevere penaunce, as )>e prest me higte,

15 Ne rygte sori for my synnes get was I nevere ;

And gif I bidde any bedes,14 but-if it be in wrath,
pat I telle with my tonge is two myle fro myne herte.

I am occupied eche day — haliday and other —

With ydel tales atte ale, and otherwhile in cherches ;

20 Goddes peyne and his passioun — ful selde J>ynke I )>ereon.

I visited nevere fieble men, ne fettered folke in puttes 15 ;

I have levere here an harlotrie,16 or a somer-game of souteres,17
Or lesynges 18 to laughe at, and belye my neighbore,
pan al pat evere Marke made, Mathew, John, and Lucas ;

25 And vigilies and fastyng-dayes — alle pise late I passe,19

And ligge abedde in Lenten, an[d] my lemman in myn armes,

Tyl matynes and masse be do, and J>anne go to j>e freres ;

1 sloth

2 bedabbled

8 creature

4 stool

5 belch

6 stretched himself

' snored

8 man

9 hasten
10 within

14 would please
12 1181-1231
18 performed
14 offer any petitions

15 dungeons

46 a tale of harlotry

17 summer-game played by

shoemakers, consisting of
athletic sports, etc.

18 lying tales

19 I let pass, pay no heed to

11. Robyn Hood : the earliest mention of him.

PIERS THE PLOWMAN

349

Come I to ' Ite, missa est,’ 1 I holde me yserved.2 *
I nam nougte shryven some tyme — but-if sekenesse it make 8 —
Nougt tweies in two gere, and fanne up gesse 4 I schryve me.

I have be 5 prest and persoun passynge thretti wynter,

<^ete can I neither solfe 6 ne synge, ne seyntes lyves rede ;

But I can fynde in a felde or in a fourlonge 7 an hare,

Better fan in Beatus vir 8 or in Beati omnes 9

Construe oon clause wel, and kenne 10 it to my parochienes.

I can holde love-dayes, and here a reves rekenynge,

Ac in canoun 11 ne in fe decretales 12 I can nougte rede a lyne.

^if I bigge 18 and borwe 14 it — -but-gif it be ytailled15 —

I forgete it as geme 16 ; and gif men me it axe
Sixe sithes or sevene, I forsake 17 it with othes,

And f us tene 18 I trewe men ten hundreth tymes.

And my servauntz — - some tyme her salarye is bihynde ;

Reuthe 19 is to here fe rekenynge whan we shal rede acomptes ;

So with wikked wille and wraththe my werkmen I paye.

^yif any man doth me a benfait, or helpeth me at nede,

I am unkynde agein 20 his curteisye, and can nougte understonde it ;
For I have and have hadde somedele21 haukes maneres :

I nam nougte lured with love, but fere ligge 22 augte 23 under f e thombe.
The kyndenesse fat myne evene-Cristene 24 kidde me fernyere,23
Sixty sythes I, Sleuthe, have forgete it sith ;

In speche and in sparynge of speche yspilte 26 many a tyme
Bothe flesche and fissche, and many other vitailles,

Bothe bred and ale, butter, melke, and chese —

Forsleuthed 27 in my servyse, til it mygte serve no man.

I ran aboute in gouthe, and gaf me nougte to lerne,

And evere sith have be beggere, for my foule sleuthe ;

1 the closing words of the mass

2 satisfied

8 unlesssicknessbringitabout

4 by guesswork

5 been

6 sol-fa, i.e. sing by note

7 lot (of land)

8 Ps. i or ii2

9 Ps. 128

1° explain

71 canon law

12 decretals — a collection
of Popes’ edicts
78 buy anything
74 give a pledge for it
78 marked on a tally

76 quickly (as may be)

77 deny

78 injure
19 pity

20 in response to

27 to some extent
22 lie

28 The lure was often baited

with meat
24 fellow-Christian
28 showed me formerly
28 wasted

27 wasted by carelessness

350

RELIGIOUS AND DIDACTIC PIECES

Heu mil hi, quod sterilem vitam duxi juvenilem ! ’

' Repentestow J>e naugte ? ’ quod Repentance, and rijte with fat he
swowned,

Til Vigil ate} fe veille,2 fette 3 water at his eyjen,

And flatte 4 it on his face, and faste on hym criede,

5 And seide : ' Ware fe fram Wanhope,5 wolde 8 fe bitraye !

" I am sori for my synnes ” — sey so to fiselve,

And bete fiselve on fe breste, and bidde hym 7 of grace;

For is no gult8 here so grete fat his goodnesse nys more.’
panne sat Sleuthe up, and seyned 9 hym swithe,10
io And made avowe tofore11 God for his foule sleuthe :

' Shal no Sondaye be fis sevene gere — but sykenesse it lette 12 —
pat I ne shal do 13 me er day to fe dere cherche,

And heren matines and masse, as I a monke were ;

Shal none ale 14 after mete holde me fennes
15 Tyl I have evensonge herde, I behote to fe rode.15
And jete wil I gelde ajein 16 — if I so moche have —

A1 fat I wikkedly wan sithen I wytte hadde.

And fough my Mode lakke,17 leten I nelle 18
pat eche man ne shal have his, ar I hennes wende ;

20 And with fe residue and fe remenaunt, bi fe Rode of Chestre !

I shal seke treuthe arst,19 ar I se Rome ! ’

PIERS THE PLOWMAN

Now is Perkyn 20 and his pilgrymes to fe plowe faren 21 ;
To erie22 fis halve-acre holpyn hym manye.

Dikeres and delveres digged up fe balkes 23 ;

25 perewith was Perkyn apayed,24 and preysed hem faste.
Other werkemen fere were fat wroujten ful jerne,25

1 Cf. Mk. 13. 37

2 watcher

3 fetched

4 dashed
6 despair

6 who would
’ God

8 guilt, sin

9 signed (crossed)

10 quickly

11 before

12 prevent
43 betake

14 alehouse

15 vow to the cross

16 repay

17 means of living fail
48 cease I will not

16 first

20 little Piers (Peterkin)

21 gone

22 plow

23 ridges of land left unplowed

24 pleased

25 zealously

PIERS THE PLOWMAN

351

Eche man in his manere made hymself to done,

And some, to plese Perkyn, piked up pe wedes.

At heighe pryme 1 Peres lete pe plowe stonde,

To oversen hem hymself ; and whoso best wrougte,

He shulde be huyred perafter, whan hervest-tyme come.

And panne seten somme, and songen atte nale,2
And hulpen erie his half acre with ' How ! trolli-lolli ! ’

' Now, bi pe peril of my soule ! ’ quod Pieres al in pure tene3 :

' But ge arise |>e rather,4 and rape5 gow to worche,

Shal no greyne pat groweth glade gow at nede ;

And |>ough ge deye for dole, pe devel have pat reccheth 6 ! ’

Tho were faitoures 7 aferde, and feyned hem blynde,

Somme leyde here legges aliri,8 as suche loseles conneth,9
And made her mone to Pieres, and preyde hym of grace :

' For we have no lymes to laboure with, lorde, ygraced be ge 1
Ac we preye for gow, Pieres, and for gowre plow bothe,
pat God of his grace gowre grayne multi plye,

And gelde gow of 10 gowre almesse pat ge give us here ;

For we may nougte swynke ne swete, suche sikenesse us eyleth.’

' If it be soth,’ quod Pieres, ' pat ge seyne, I shal it sone asspye 1
^ye ben wastoures,11 I wote wel, and Treuthe wote pe sothe !

And I am his olde hyne,12 and higte hym to warne
Which pei were in pis worlde his werkemen appeyred.13
^e wasten pat men wynnen with travaille and with tene,

Ac Treuthe shal teche gow his teme to dryve,

Or ge shal ete barly bred, and of pe broke drynke ;

But if he be blynde or broke-legged, or bolted with yrnes,14
He shal ete whete bred, and drynke with myselve,

Tyl God of his goodnesse amendement hym sende.

Ac ge mygte travaille as Treuthe wolde, and take mete and huyre
To kepe kyne 15 in pe felde, pe corne fro pe bestes,

1 Probably about 9 A.M.

2 at their ale

8 vexation, grief

4 more quickly

5 haste

6 take him who cares

" vagabonds

8 crosswise

9 wretched idlers know how

to do

1° requite you for
U spendthrifts

l2 servant

1® those who in this world de¬
moralized his workmen
14 supported with iron supports
16 cattle

352

RELIGIOUS AND DIDACTIC PIECES

Diken or delven, or dyngen 1 uppon sheves,2
Or helpe make morter, or here mukke afelde.

In lecherye and in losengerye 8 ge lyven, and in sleuthe ==■

And al is ])orw suffrance pat venjaunce gow ne taketh.

S Ac ancres and heremytes, pat eten nogt but at nones,4
And na more er morwe,5 myne almesse shul pei have,

And of my catel 6 to cope hem with pat han cloistres and cherches.
Ac Robert Renneaboute shal nowgte have of myne,

Ne posteles,7 but8 )?ey preche conne, and have powere 9 of j)e bisschop ;
io They shal have payne 10 and potage, and make hemself at ese,

For it is an unresonable religioun pat hath rigte nougte of certeyne.11 ’

PIERS THE PLOWMAN’S CREED

Among the poems which owe their origin to Piers Plowman is Piers the
Plowman's Creed , written by an unknown author soon after 1393. It runs thus :
An unlearned man who has got by heart the Paternoster and Ave Maria,
wishes also to know the Creed, and seeks a teacher. He applies in turn to
friars of each of the four orders. Each rails at the other orders, and promises
that the questioner shall be saved without knowledge of the Creed, if he
contribute to the expenses of the monastery. The man leaves them with
indignation at their magnificent buildings and luxurious lives, and finally
comes upon a poor plowman, who joins him in invective against friars of all
orders. Skeat suggests that the keynote of the poem is to be found at the
beginning of Passus 9 (A), 8 (B), 11 (C) of Piers Plowman.

This poem was first printed in 1553. Our text, however, is taken, not from
that of 1553, but from Skeat’s edition (E.E.T.S. 30) of MS. Camb. Trin. Coll.
R. 3. 15 (adopting Skeat’s emendations without comment), which, though later
than 1553, he concludes to be based on a much earlier manuscript. Our

selections embrace lines 98-137, 153-242, 420-42, 546-64, 719-61, and 775-8.

•

' Alas 1 frere,’ qua]) I )>o,12 ' my purpos is ifailed ;

Now is my counfort acast.18 Canstou no bote 14 —

Where Y mygte meten wij) a man ]>at mygte me wissen 15
1 5 For to conne my crede, Crist for to folwen ? ’

1 thresh

2 sheaves

8 lying, flattering
4 noon

8 till the next morning

6 substance
1 apostles

8 unless

9 license

10 bread, food

11 has no established order

12 then

13 cast away, lost

14 do you know no remedy

15 teach

PIERS THE PLOWMAN’S CREED

353

' Certeyne, felawe,’ quap ]>e frere, ' wipouten any faile :

Of all men opon mold, we Menures 1 most schewep
pe pure apostelles life, wip penaunce on erpe,

And suen 2 hem in sanctite, and suffren well harde.

We haunten none tavernes, ne hobelen 8 abouten ;

At marketts and myracles 4 we rnedlep us nevere ;

We hondlen no money, but menelich5 faren,

And haven hunger at the meate — at ich a mel ones.

We haven forsaken the worlde, and in wo lybbe]>,6
In penaunce and poverte ; and prechep pe puple,

By ensample of oure life, soules to helpen ;

And in povertie praien for all oure parteners 7
J’at jyvep us any good, God to honouren —

Oper bell, oper booke, or breed to our fode,

Other catell,8 oper cloth to coveren wi|> our bones,9
Money, or money-worthe — here mede 10 is in heven.

For we buldep a burwg,11 a brod and a large:

A chirche and a chapaile, with chambres alofte,

Wip wide windowes ywrougt, and walles wel heye,

pat mote bene portreid and paynt, and pulched 12 ful clene ;

With gaie glittering glas, glowing as pe sonne ;

And, mygtestou amenden us wip money of pyn owne,

)?ou chuldest cnely 13 bifore Crist in compas 14 of gold,

In pe wide windowe westwarde — wel nije in the myddell —
And Seynt Fraunces himself schall folden .the in his cope,

And presente the to the Trynitie, and praie for thy synnes ;
p\ name schall noblich ben wryten and wroujt, for the nones,13
And, in remembrance of )>e, yrade 16 per for ever.

And, broper, be pou noujt aferd ; bythenk in thyn herte ;

J?oug pou conne nougt pi crede, kare pou no more ;

1 Minorites

2 follow
8 loaf

4 miracle-plays
6 meanly
6 live

1 those who share with us

8 property, goods

9 our bones with
1° their reward

11 large convent (lit. borough)
42 polished

18 kneel

14 circle, ring ; with this whole
passage compare Piers
Plowmati, 341 23-26
is for the occasion
16 read

354

RELIGIOUS AND DIDACTIC PIECES

I schal asoilen 1 J>e, syre, and setten it on my soule,

And }>ou maie maken jns good ; j^enk J>ou non o)>er.2 ’

' Sire,’ Y saide, ' in certaine Y schal gon and asaye.’
And he sette on me his honde, and asoilede me clene ;
And }>eir Y parted him fro, wi)>outen any peine ;

In covenant J>at Y come agen, Crist he me betaugte.3 . . .
panne fougt Y to frayne4 he first5 of )4s foure ordirs,
And presede 6 to he prechoures to proven 7 here wille.

Ich higede 8 to her house to herken of more,

And whan Y cam to hat court, Y gaped aboute.

Swich a bild9 bold, ybuld opon erj>e heigte,10
Say 11 I nougt in certeine si}>he a longe tyme.

Y gemede 12 upon hat house, and geme 18 heron loked,
Whoug 14 he pileres weren ypeynt and pulched ful clene,
And queynteli icorven wij> curiouse knottes,10
Wih wyndowes well ywrougt, wide up olofte.

And hanne Y entrid in and evenfor]> 16 went,

And all was walled )>at wone,17 )>oug it wid were,

Wih posternes in pryvytie 18 to pasen 19 when hem liste,
Orchegardes and erberes20 evesed21 well clene,

And a curious cros craftly entayled,22

Wih tabernacles 23 ytigt 24 to toten 25 all abouten.

pe pris 26 of a plouglond, of 27 penyes so rounde,

To aparaile 28 )>at pyler were pure 29 lytel.

panne Y munte 30 me for)) he mynstre to knowen,

And awaytede a woon 81 wonderlie well ybeld,32

1 absolve

2 no otherwise

8 he commended me to Christ
4 question
6 the Dominicans

6 pressed forward, hastened

7 make trial of

8 hied me

9 building

10 a height of earth, an elevation

11 saw

12 gazed attentively
18 eagerly
I4 how
is bosses
16 straight ahead
ir dwelling-place

18 private posterns

19 go out

20 gardens

21 bordered

22 carved

28 furnish forth, provide for

29 very

80 ventured

81 perceived a building

24 fixed, arranged

25 spy

26 price

28 cells

82 built

8. prechoures : the Dominicans were called Preachers.

PIERS THE PLOWMAN’S CREED

355

Wip arches on everiche half,1 and belliche 2 * ycorven,
Wip crochetes 8 on comers wip knottes of golde,

Wyde wyndowes ywrougt, ywritten full pikke,4
Schynen wi|> schapen scheldes 5 to schewen aboute,

Wi}) merkes 6 of marchauntes ymedled 7 bytwene,

Mo pan twenty and two twyes ynoumbred.
per is none heraud 8 ]>at hap half swich a rolle —

Rijt as a rageman 9 hadde 10 rekned hem newe.

Tombes opon tabernacles tyld opon lofte,11
Housed in hirnes 12 harde set abouten,

Of armede alabaustre clad for J>e nones,

Made upon marbel in many maner wyse ;

Knyghtes in her conisantes 13 clad for pe nones :

All it semed seyntes, ysacred 14 opon erpe,

And lovely ladies ywrougt leyen by her sydes,

In many gay garmentes, )>at weren goldbeten.15
pouj pe tax of ten jer were trewly ygadered,

Nolde it noujt maken pat hous half, as Y trowe.

panne kam I to pat cloister and gaped abouten,
Whouj it was pilered and peynt and portred well clene,
All yhyled wip leed 16 lowe to pe stones,

And ypaved wip peynt til 17 iche poynte 18 after oper ;
Wip kundites 19 of clene tyn 20 closed all aboute,

Wip lavoures 21 of latun 22 lovelyche ygreithed.28
I trowe pe gaynage 24 of pe ground in a gret schire
Nolde aparaile pat place oo poynt til other ende.25
panne was pe chaptire-hous wroujt as a greet chirche,
Corven and covered, and queyntliche entayled,20

1 side

2 beautifully

8 crockets

4 with many inscriptions

s coats of arms wrought

6 symbols, badges

1 interspersed

8 herald

2 catalogue

1» MS. ha(>

11 set up on high

12 enclosed in comers
18 cognizances

14 sanctified, consecrated

15 adorned with beaten gold

16 covered with lead
1" painted tiles

18 piece, bit

19 conduits

20 tin

21 lavers

22 latoun, a kind of brass
28 prepared

24 produce

28 would not fit out that place
one bit towards the other
end

28 sculptured

356

RELIGIOUS AND DIDACTIC PIECES

Wif semlich selure 1 yset on lofte,

As a Parlement Hous ypeynted aboute.

panne ferd 2 3 Y into fraytour,8 and fond fere anofer,
An halle for an heyj kinge an housholde to holden,

Wif brode bordes 4 * aboute ybenched 6 wel clene,

Wif windowes of glas wroujt as a chirche.

panne walkede Y ferrer, and went all abouten,

And seij halles ful hyje, and houses full noble,
Chambers wif chymneyes, and chapells gaie,

And kychens for an hyje kinge in castells to holden,
And her dortour 6 ydijte 7 wif dores ful stronge,

Fermery 8 and fraitur, with fele mo houses,

And a 9 strong ston wall, Sterne opon heife,10
Wif gaie garites 11 and grete, and iche hole yglased,

And of ere houses ynowe to herberwe f e queene ;

And jet fise bilderes wilne beggen a baggful of wheate
Of a pure pore 12 man fat maie onef e 18 paie
Half his rente in a jer, and half ben behynde.

panne turned Y ajen, whan Y hadde all ytoted,14
And fond in a freitour a frere on a benche,

A greet cherl and a grym, growen as a tonne,15

Wif a face as fat as a full bledder

Blowen bretfull 16 of bref , and as a bagge honged 17

On bofen his chekes, and his chyn wif a chol 18 lollede,19

As greet as a gos-eye,20 growen all of grece ;

pat 21 all wagged his fleche 22 as a quyk myre.28

His cope fat biclypped 24 him, wel clene 25 was it folden,

Of double worstede 26 ydyjt,27 doun to fe hele ;

1 ceiling

2 went

3 the refectory

4 tables

6 furnished with benches

6 dormitory

7 provided

8 infirmary

9 MS. all

1° stern on a height
14 garrets
12 very poor
43 with difficulty

14 observed

15 as large as a tun
48 brimful

47 it hung

48 jowl

19 wagged about

20 goose-egg
24 so that

22 flesh

28 like a quagmire
24 covered
26 neatly

26 Cf. Chaucer, Prol. 262

27 made

PIERS THE PLOWMAN’S CREED

357

His kyrtel of clene whiit, clenlyche 1 ysewed ;

Hyt was good ynow of ground 2 greyn 8 for to beren.

I haylsede 4 )>at herdeman,6 and hendliche 6 Y saide :

' Code syre, for Godes love canstou me graip 7 tellen 8
To any wor]>ely wiijt 9 )>at wissen 10 me coupe
Whou 11 Y schulde conne my crede, Crist for to folowe,
pat levede lelliche 12 himself, and lyvede perafter ;
pat feynede non falshede, but fully Crist suwede 13 ?

For sich a certeyn man syker wold Y trosten 14
pat he wolde telle me pe trewpe, and tume to none oper.
And an Austyn pis ender 15 daie egged 10 me faste ;
pat he wolde techen me wel he plygt me his treupe,

And seyde me : " Serteyne, sypen Crist died,

Oure ordir was evelles 17 and erst 18 yfounde.”. .

And as Y wente be pe waie, wepynge for sorowe,

I seij a sely 19 man me by opon pe plow hongen.

His cote was of a cloute 20 pat cary 21 was ycalled ;

His hod 22 was full of holes, and his heer oute ;

Wip his knopped schon,28 clouted full pykke,24
His ton toteden out 25 as he pe londe treddede ;

His hosen overhongen his hokschynes 20 on everiche a side,
A1 beslobbred 27 in fen,28 as he pe plow folwede ;

Twey myteynes29 as mete,80 maad all of cloutes —
pe fyngers weren forwerd,31 and ful of fen honged.
pis whit 82 waselede 88 in pe fen almost to pe ancle ;

Foure roperen34 hym byforn pat feble were worpen80 —

1 neatly

2 texture

8 color, dye
4 saluted

6 shepherd, pastor

6 courteously

7 readily

8 direct

9 worthy person

10 teach
U how

12 believed faithfully

i® followed

14 trust

15 other

16 urged

17 evil-less
16 first

19 simple

20 a ragged cloth

21 name of a coarse material

22 hood

28 shoes full of knobs or
roughnesses

24 in tatters

25 toes peeped out

26 the under side of the thighs

27 bedaubed; MS. beslombered

28 mud

29 mittens

80 suitable

81 worn out

82 fellow (wight)

88 bemired himself

84 heifers

85 become

35«

RELIGIOUS AND DIDACTIC PIECES

Men myjte reken ich a ryb,1 so reufull 2 * fey weren.

His wiif walked him wif, wif a longe gode,8
In a cutted 4 * cote 6 cutted full heyge,

Wrapped in a wynwe-schete 6 to weren 7 hire fro weders,8
5 Barfote on fe bare iis, fat fe blod folwede.

And at fe londes 9 ende laye a litell crombolle,10
And feron lay a litell childe, lapped in cloutes,

And tweyne of tweie jeres olde, opon anof er syde ;

And alle fey songen o songe, fat sorwe was to heren ;
io ]?ey crieden alle o cry — a carefull 11 note.

}?e sely man sijede sore, and seide : ' Children, bef stille.’ . . .

Loke nowe, leve 12 man, bef noujt fise ilyke
Fully to fe Farisens13 in fele 14 of fise poyntes ?

A1 her brod beldyng 13 ben belded withe synne,

15 And in worchipe of fe werlde her wynnynge fei holden.

J>ei schapen her chapolories,16 and strecchef hem b rode 17
And launcef 18 heije her hemmes wif babelyng19 in stretes;
J?ei ben ysewed wif whigt silk, and semes full queynte,
Ystongen20 wif stiches fat staref as silver.

20 And but21 freres ben first yset at sopers and at festes,

J>ei wiln ben wonderly wrof, ywis, as Y trowe ;

But fey ben at fe lordes borde, louren 22 fey willef ,

He mot bygynne fat borde,23 a beggere 24 — • wif sorwe 25 ! —
And first sitten in se 26 in her synagoges,27
25 ~pat bef here heyje hellehous of Kaymes 28 kynde ;

For fouj a man in her mynster a masse wolde heren,

His sijt schal so be set on sundrye werkes,

1 count each rib

2 miserable, sorry-looking

8 goad

4 cut short

6 skirt, petticoat

6 a sheet used in winnow¬
ing corn

r protect

8 storms

9 strip’s

10 crumb-bowl

11 full of misery

42 dear

13 Pharisees

14 many

15 building

16 scapulars

ir Matt. 23. 5-7

18 fling

19 babbling

20 pricked through

21 unless

22 look sourly

23 sit at the head of the

24 beggar that he is (perhaps

with allusion to the beg¬
ging friars)

25 bad luck to him

26 seat

27 churches

28 Cain’s(CAIM = Carmelites

Augustinians, Jacobins,
Minorites — the four or¬
ders of friars)

PIERS THE PLOWMAN’S CREED

359

]?e penounes,1 and pe pomels,2 * and poyntes 8 of scheldes
Wipdrawen his devocion, and dusken 4 * his herte ;

I likne it to a lymgerde 6 to drawen men to hell. . . .

]?ei usen russet 6 also, somme of pis freres,

)">at bitokne]) travaile and tre\vj>e opon erpe.

Bote loke whou pis lorels 7 labouren pe erpe,

But freten 8 pe frute pat pe folk full lellich biswynkep 9 ;

Wip travail of trewe men pei tymbren 10 her houses,

And of curious 11 elope her copes ]>ei biggen 12 ;

And als 18 his getynge is greet he schal ben good holden ;

And rygt as dranes 14 dop nougt but drynkep up pe huny,
Whan been lo wipe her bysynesse han brougt it to hepe,

Rigt so fare)) freres wip folke opon erpe :

pey freten up pe fu[r]ste froyt,16 and falsliche lybbep.

But alle freres eten nougt ylich good mete,

But after pat his wynnynge is, is his wellfare ;

And after pat he bringep home, his bed schal ben grayped 17 ;
And after pat his rychesse is raugt,18 he schal ben redy served.
But see piself in pi sigt whou somme of hem walkep
Wip cloutede 19 schon, and elopes ful feble,

Wei neig forwerd,20 and pe wlon 21 offe ;

And his felawe in a froke worp swiche fiftene,22
Arayd in rede sc[h]on — and elles were reupe 23 —

And sexe copes or seven in his celle hongep.

)?oug for fayling of good his fellawe schulde sterve,24
He wolde nougt lenen 25 him a peny his liif for to holden.

Y migt tymen po troiflardes 26 to toilen wip pe erpe,

Tylyen,27 and trewliche lyven, and her flech tempren !

1 pennons

2 pommels, bosses

8 divisions

4 darken, cloud

6 a limed twig

6 The Franciscans wore gray
habits originally, but later
russet-brown

1 good-for-nothings

8 devour

9 faithfully obtain by labor
1° build

11 MS. curious

12 fashion (i) ; buy (?)
is according as

14 drones
is bees

16 first-fruits

17 prepared

is reached, obtained

19 patched

20 worn out

21 borders, hems

22 fifteen of such
28 a pity

24 die

25 lend, give

26 compel the triflers

27 till the ground

360

RELIGIOUS AND DIDACTIC PIECES

Now mot ich soutere 1 his sone setten to schole,

And ich a beggers brol 2 * on ]> e booke lerne,

And worf to 8 a writere, and wi|t a lorde dwell,

Oper falsly to a frere, ]ie fend for to serven.

5 So of )?at beggers brol a bychop schal worsen,

Among l>e peres of )>e lond prese 4 to sitten,

And lordes sones lowly to ]io losells aloute 5 ;

Knyjtes croukej? 6 hem to, and cruche|> 7 full lowe ;

And his syre a soutere, ysuled 8 in grees,
io His tee)> wi)> toylinge of 9 le^er tatered as a sawe !

Alaas ! ]>at lordes of pe londe leve)> 10 swiche wrechen,

And lenejt 11 swiche lorels for her lowe wordes 1

pey schulden maken bichopes her owen bre|>ren childre,

Ojter of some gentil blod, and 12 so it best semed,

15 And foster none faytoures,18 ne swiche false freres,

To maken fatt and full, and her fleche combren 14 !

For her kynde were more to yclense diches

pan ben to sopers yset first, and served wi}> silver ! . . .

For Fraunces15 founded hem noujt to faren 16 on )>at wise,
20 Ne Domynik 17 dued 18 hem never swiche drynkers to worpe,
Ne Helye19 ne Austen20 swiche liif never used,

But in poverte of spirit spended her tyme.

1 cobbler

2 brat

8 become

4 press forward

6 bow down to the wretches

6 bend down

crouch

8 soiled

9 tugging at

10 believe

11 enrich

12 if

48 traitors, deceivers
44 cumber, gorge
46 St. Francis of Assisi, founder
of the Franciscan order

48 do

4" Dominic, founder of
the Dominicans

48 endowed

49 Elijah

20 St. Augustine

ILLUSTRATIONS OF LIFE AND
MANNERS

SONG AGAINST THE FRIARS

The following selection (lines 1-84 of the poem) is reprinted from Wright’s
Political Poems and Songs (London, 1859) 1. 263-5. R is from MS. Brit. Mus.
Cotton Cleopatra B. 2, which Wright assigns to the year 1382.

Preste, ne monke, ne jit chanoun,

Ne no man of religioun,

Gyfen hem so to devocioun
As done thes holy frers.

For summe gyven ham to chyvalry,

Somme to riote and ribaudery ;

Bot ffrers gyven ham to grete study,

And to grete prayers.

Who so kepes thair reule al,

Bothe in worde and dede,

I am ful siker that he shal
Have heven blis to mede.1

Men may se by thair contynaunce
That thai are men of grete penaunce,

And also that thair sustynaunce
Simple is and wayke.

I have lyved now fourty jers,

And fatter men about the neres 2
^it sawe I never then are these frers,

In contreys ther thai rayke.8

1 as reward

2 kidneys ; cf. Isa. 34. 6
361

8 wander about

362 ILLUSTRATIONS OF LIFE AND MANNERS

Meteles,1 so megre are thai made,

And penaunce so puttes ham doun,

That ichone is an hors-lade,2 3
When he shal trusse of toun.8

5 Allas, that ever it shuld be so,

Suche clerkes as thai about shuld go,

Fro toun to toun by two and two,

To seke thair sustynaunce !

By God that al this world wan,

10 He that that ordre first bygan

Me thynk certes it was a man
Of simple ordynaunce.4
For thai have noght to lyve by,

Thai wandren here and there,

15 And dele with dyvers marcerye,5

Right as thai pedlers were.

Thai dele with purses, pynnes, and knyves,
With gyrdles, gloves, for wenches and wyves ;
Bot ever bacward the husband thryves
20 Ther thai are haunted tille.6

For when the gode man is fro hame,

And the frere comes to oure dame,

He spares nauther for synne ne shame
That he ne dos his wille.

25 c7)if thai no helpe of houswyves had,

When husbandes are not inne,

The freres welfare were ful bad,

For thai shuld brewe ful thynne.

Somme frers beren pelure 7 aboute,

30 For grete ladys and wenches stoute,

1 without meat 4 regulation, rule of life 6 where they are accustomed

2 horse load 5 mercery (textile goods and to go

3 pack out of town small wares) 1 fur

SONG AGAINST THE FRIARS

363

To reverce 1 with thair clothes withoute,

A1 after that thai ere2 —

For somme vaire,8 and somme gryse,4
For somme bugee,6 and for somme byse6;
And also many a dyvers spyse,

In bagges about thai bere.

A1 that for women is plesand
Ful redy certes have thai ;

Bot lytel gyfe thai the husband,

That for al shal pay.

Trantes7 thai can,8 and many a jape9 ;

For somme can with a pound of sape 10
Gete him a kyrtelle 11 and a cape,

And somwhat els therto.

Wherto shuld I othes swere ?

Ther is no pedler that pak can bere
That half so dere can selle his gere
As 12 a frer can do.

For if he gife a wyfe a knyfe
That cost bot penys two,

Worthe ten knyves, so mot I thryfe,

He wyl have er he go.

Iche man that here shal lede his life,

That has a faire doghter or a wyfe,

Be war that no frer ham shryfe,

Nauther loude ne stille.

Thof women seme of hert ful stable,

With faire byhest and with fable
Thai can make thair hertes chaungeable,
And thair likynges fulfille.

fur made from the skin of a
kind of squirrel

plow (?)

to turn back, so as to show
the lining

4 gray fur

5 lambskin fur

6 a (brown ?) fur used for trimming
" tricks

8 know

9 jest

10 soap

11 mantle

12 MS. then

364 ILLUSTRATIONS OF LIFE AND MANNERS

Be war1 ay with the lymitour,2
And with his felawe bathe,

And 3 thai make maystries 4 in thi hour,
It shal turne the to scathe.5

ON THE MINORITE FRIARS

This poem, found in the same manuscript as the preceding one, is also
reprinted from Wright’s Political Poems and Songs (1.268-70). The writer
seems to be describing pictorial representations.

Of thes frer mynours me thenkes moch wonder,

That waxen are thus hauteyn,6 that som tyme weren under ;
Among men of holy chirch thai maken mochel blonder 7 ;

Nou he that sytes8 us above make ham sone to sonder9 !

With an O and an I, thai praysen not Seynt Poule ;

Thai lyen on Seyn[t] Fraunceys, by my fader soule.

First thai gabben on 10 God, that alle men may se,

When thai hangen him on hegh on a grene tre,

With leves and with blossemes that bright are of ble,u
That was never Goddes Son, by my leute.12

With an O and an I, men wenen that thai wede,13
To carpe so of clergy that14 can not thair Crede.

Thai have done him on a croys fer up in the skye,

And festned on hym wyenges, as he shuld die ;

This fals feyned byleve 15 shal thai soure bye,16
On that lovelych Lord so for to lye.

With an O and an I, one sayd ful stille :

' Armachan 17 distroy ham, if it is Goddes wille ! ’

1 cautious 6 haughty 13 g0 mad

2 friar licensed to beg within cer- 7 confusion 14 MS. thai

tain limits ; cf. Chaucer, Wife s sits 15 belief

of Bath's Tale 9-25 8 disperse them soon 16 Cf. 112 23

3 if 10 make sport of 17 Richard Fitzralph

4 play tricks 11 hue (d. 1360)

6 to your harm 12 loyalty, faith

ON THE MINORITE ERIARS

365

Ther comes one out of the skye in a grey goun,

As it were an hoghyerd 1 hyand 2 to toun ;

Thai have mo 8 goddes then we, I say by Mahoun,4
Alle men under ham that ever beres croun.5

With an O and an I, why shuld thai not be shent 6 ?

Ther wantes noght hot a fyre that thai nere alle brent.7

Went I forther on my way in that same tyde 8 ;

Ther I sawe a frere blede in myddes of his syde ;

Bothe in hondes and in fete had he woundes wyde.

To serve to that same frer the pope mot abyde.9
With an O and an I, I wonder of thes dedes,

To se a pope holde a dische whyl the frer bledes.

A cart was made al of fyre, as it shuld be ;

A gray frer I sawe therinne, that best lyked me.

Wele I wote thai shal be brent, by my leaute ;

God graunt me that grace that I may it se.

With an O and an I, brent be thai alle,

And alle that helpes therto faire mot byfalle 10 !

Thai preche alle of povert, bot that love thai noght ;

For gode mete to thair mouthe the toun is thurgh soght.11
Wyde are thair wonnynges,12 and wonderfully wroght ;

Murdre and horedome 13 ful dere has it boght.

With an O and an I, for sixe pens er thai fayle,

Sle thi fadre, and jape 14 thi modre, and thai wyl the assoile.

swineherd

hastening

Mahomet

tonsure

6 destroyed n searched through

1 burned 12 dwellings

8 time 13 whoredom

9 must wait 14 lie with

10 may fair (good) befall

366 ILLUSTRATIONS OF LITE AND MANNERS

THE REPLY OF FRIAR DAW TOPIAS

About 1401. This selection, from MS. Oxford Digby 41, is here reprinted
from Wright’s Political Poems and Songs 2. 76-8.

Forthermore 1 thou spekest
Of oure costli houses ;

Thou seist it were more almes
To helpen the nedy

5 Than to make siche housynge

To men that ben deede,

To whiche longith 2 but graves
And mornynge-housis.

Jak, is not a man beter
10 Than a rude best ?

<7)it makist thou to thi sheep a shepen,3
And to thi hors a stable ;

And many a pore man ther is
That hath noon hillyng,4

15 But oonly heven is his hous.

The bestes stond kevered ;

Whi houses thou not pore men
As wele as thi beestis ?

Take hede to sumwhat
20 That is seid biforen :

And 0 thou answere to my question,

Answer to thin owne.

Thou carpist 8 also of oure coveitise,

And sparist the sothe ;

2 5 Thou seist we ben more ryal7

Than ony lordis.

Coventis have wee noon, Jack,

But cloistrers we ben callid,

Foundid 1 afor 8 with charite,

1 MS. ff-

2 belong, are fitting

3 sheep-cote

4 shelter

5 if

t talkest

7 royal, regal

8 aforetime

THE LAND OF COKAYGNE

367

Or that he were flemyd 1 ;

But sith 2 entride envie,

And revyd 8 hath oure houses,

That unnethes 4 the hillinge 5
Hangith on the sparres6;

And jit thou thinkist hem over-good —

Yvel fare thou therfore 1

Jak, where saw thou ever frere-houses

Thourgout the rewme7

Liche in ony rialte 8

To the Toure of Londoun,

To Wyndesore, to Wodestoke,

To Wallingforde, to Shene,

To Herforde, to Eltham,

To Westmynster, to Dover9 ?

How maist thou for rebukyng
Lye so lowde,

To saye that oure covetise
Passith the lordes’ ?

THE LAND OF COKAYGNE

The Land of Cokaygne, which has been called the earliest extant English
fabliau, is not a fabliau at all, but rather a piece of Rabelaisian satire. With
the satire, which is directed against monks and nuns, and possibly includes
some local and specific references, are, however, mingled touches of the
purely comic spirit. Cf. Pherecrates, in Athenaeus 6. 97.

An Old French poem similar in character is found in Barbazan and Meon’s
Fabliaux et Cottles 4. 175-81, entitled Li Fabliaus de Coquaigne (though, again,
not a fabliau). Here the details are somewhat different, and the satiric intent,
and reference to the religious orders, much less marked, but the general
picture is of the same sort. One of the most amusing details is similar:

Par les rues vont rostissant
Les crasses oes, et tomant
Tout par eles [lines 37-9].

1 before it was banished

2 afterward

3 robbed ; MS. renyd

4 so that scarcely

5 roof 9 Royal castles or palaces were

6 rafters, beams in all these places

l realm

8 royalty .

368 ILLUSTRATIONS OF LIFE AND MANNERS

Here there are two rivers of wine, of which he who will may drink ; four
Easters, Christmases, and All-Saints Days every year ; but a Lent only once in
twenty years 1

Our text is reproduced (120 lines out of 190) from Matzner’s Altenglische
Sprachproben (1. 148 ff. ) , which follows MS. Brit. Mus. Harl. 913. It has been
dated ca. 1305.

Fur 1 in see bi west Spaygne 2
Is a lond ihote 8 Cokaygne.
per nis lond under hevenriche 4
Of wel,8 of godnis, hit iliche ;

S po% Paradis be miri and brijt,

Cokaygn is of fairir sijt.

What is per in Paradis
Bot grasse, and flure, and grene ris 6 ?
po% per be joi and grete dute,7
10 per nis mete 8 bote frute ;

J>er nis halle, bure,9 no benche,

Bot watir, manis purst to quenche.

Be)) per no man but two —

Hely 10 and Enok 11 also ;

1 5 Elinglich 12 may hi go

Whar per wonip 13 men no mo.

In Cokaygne is met and drink
Wipute care, how,14 and swink.15
J>e met is trie,16 pe drink is clere,

20 To none, russin,17 and sopper.

I sigge 18 forsop, boute were,19
per nis lond on erthe is pere 20 ;

Under heven nis lond, iwisse,21
Of so mochil joi and blisse.

25 per is mani swete sijte : 4

A1 is dai, nis per no nigte ;

1 far

2 MS. Spayngne

3 called

4 heaven’s domain
6 prosperity

6 branches

7 delight

8 is no food
8 chamber

10 Elijah ; cf. 2 Kings 2. 11
14 Enoch ; cf. Gen. 5. 24
12 sorrowfully
18 dwell
14 trouble

15 labor

16 select

17 (?)

18 say

18 without doubt

20 its equal

21 indeed

THE LAND OF COKAYGNE

369

per nis baret 1 no]>er strif ;

Nis per no dep, ac 2 ever lif ;
per nis lac of met no clop ;
per nis man no womman wrop ;
per nis serpent, wolf, no fox,

Hors no capil,3 kowe no ox ;
per nis schepe, no swine, no gote,
Ne non horwg,4 la,6 God it wot,
Nother harace,6 nother stode 7 ;
pe londe is ful of oper gode.

Nis per flei,8 fie,9 no lowse,

In clop, in toune, bed, no house ;
per nis dunnir,10 slete, no haile,11
No non vile worme, no snaile,12
No non storme, rein, no winde ;
per is man no womman blinde ;

Ok 13 al is game,14 joi, and gle.

Wei is him pat per mai be !

per bep rivers gret and fine,

Of oile, melk, honi, and wine ;

Watir servip per to noping
Bot to sigt and to waiissing.15
per is [mani] 16 maner frute ;

Al is solas and dedute.17

per is a wel fair abbei
Of white monkes and of grei :
per bep bowris and halles ;

Al of pasteiis 18 bep pe walles,

Of fleis, of fisse, and rich met,
pe likfullist 19 pat man mai et,

Fluren 20 cakes bep pe scingles 21 alle

1 quarrel

2 but
8 nag

4 defilement
0 truly

6 place for breeding horses
r stud

8 fly

9 flea

10 thunder

11 hail ; MS. hawle

12 MS. snawile
48 but

14 mirth

15 washing

16 em. M.

17 delight

Is pasties, pies

19 most delicious

20 flour

21 shingles

370 ILLUSTRATIONS OF LIFE AND MANNERS

3°

Of cherche, cloister, boure, and halle ;
pe pinnes 1 be}> fat podinges —

Rich met to princez and [to] kinges ;

Man mai perof et inog

A1 wij) rigt, and nogt wi|) wog 2 :

A1 is commune to gung and old,

To stoute and Sterne, mek and bold.

per is a cloister, fair and ligt,

Brod and lang, of sembli 8 sigt.
pe pilers of pat cloistre alle
Be]) iturned of cristale,

With har bas 4 and capitale
Of grene jaspe and rede corale.

In ]>e praer 5 is a tre,

Swi]>e likful 6 for to se :

pe rote is gingevir and galingale 7 ;

pe siouns 8 be}) al sedwale 9 ;

Trie maces be]> ]>e flure ;
pe rind, canel 10 of swet odur ;
pe frute, gilofre 11 of gode smakke 12 ;
Of cucubes 13 )>er nis no lakke.

per be]> rosis of rede ble,14
And lilie likful for to se —
pai falowej) 15 never day no nigt ;
pis agt be 16 a swete sigt.
per be)> iiii willis 17 in ])e abbei
Of triacle 18 and halwei,19
Of baum 20 and ek piement,21
Ever emend 22 to rigt rent 23 ;

Of fam 24 stremis al j)e molde.25

1 pinnacles

2 wrong
8 seemly

4 their base
6 meadow
8 very attractive
^ ginger and galingale (sweet
cyperus)

8 scions, shoots

9 zedoary
1° cinnamon

11 gillyflower

12 taste

13 cubebs (a pungent spice)
hue

15 fade

is ought to be
!" wells

18 treacle (a medicine)

19 healing water

20 balm

21 spiced wine sweetened

with honey

22 running

23 profit

24 these ; MS. pai

25 earth, nom.

THE LAND OF COKAYGNE

Stonis preciuse, and golde :
per is saphir and uniune,1
Carbuncle and astiune,2
Smaragde,8 lugre,4 and prassiune,5
Beril, onix, topasiune,6
Ametist and crisolite,

Calcedun and epetite.7

per bep briddes mani and fale 8 —
prostil, pruisse,9 and nigtingale,
Chalandre 10 and wodwale,11
And oper briddes wipout tale,12
pat stintej) 13 never by har migt 14
Miri to sing dai and nigt.

^ite I do gow mo to witte 15 :
pe gees irostid on pe spitte
Fleez 16 to pat abbai, God hit wot,

And gredip 17 : ' Gees al hote, al hot 1 ’
Hi bringep garlek gret plente,
pe best idigt 18 pat man mai se.
pe leverokes 19 — )>at bep cup 20 —
Ligtip adun to manis mu|),

Idigt in stu 21 ful swipe wel,

Pudrid22 wip gilofre and canel.

Nis no spech of no drink ;

Ak take inog wipute swink.

Whan pe monkes goop 23 to masse,
All pe fenestres 24 pat bep of glasse
Turnep into cristal brigt,

To give [pe] monkes more ligt.

When pe masses bep iseiid,

37i

1 pearl

2 astrion (/^r^a/rasteriated

10 a Mediterranean species of
lark ; see Romance of the
Rose (81, 663), 914

9 thrush

16 fly ; MS. fleeS
1" cry out
18 dressed
18 larks

20 well known

21 made into a stew

22 sprinkled
28 MS. geej>

sapphire)

3 emerald

4 ligure

5 chrysoprase

6 topaz

" hepatite
8 numerous

n woodpecker

12 number

13 cease

14 according to their ability

15 give you to know further

24 windows

3 72 ILLUSTRATIONS OF LIFE AND MANNERS

And fe bokes up ileiid,1
pe cristal turnif into glasse —

In state fat hit rafer2 wasse.

THE GOSSIPS’ FEAST

The following poem is reprinted from Dyboski’s Songs, Carols, etc. (E.E.T.S.
Ex. Ser. ioi), an edition of Richard Hill’s Commonplace-Book (MS. Oxford
Balliol 354). The manuscript contains records as late as 1536, but our text
differs only slightly from that of Wright in Percy Society 23.91-5, which is
dated by the editor 1461-85, and from which two or three readings are here
adopted (marked W.). Our text is on pages 106-8 of Dyboski.

Hoow, gossip my ne, gossip myn,

5 Whan will we go to pe wyne ,

Good gossip\is myn ] ?

I shall you tell a full good sport,

How gossippis gader them on a sort,3
Ther seke 4 bodyes to comforte,

10 Whan they mete

In lane or stret,

God 5 gossipis myn, [a !]

But I dare not, for }>er dissplesans,6
Tell of fes maters half the substance ;

1 5 But jet sumwhat of fer governance,7

As ferre as I dare,

I will declare,

Good gossipis myn, [a !]

' Good gossip myn, wher have ye be ?

20 Hit is so long sith I you see ;

Wher is )>e best wyne, tell you me !

Can ye owght tell ? ’

' Ye, full well,

Good gossippis myn, [a !]

1 4 sick 7 proceedings

2 formerly 5 good

8 in a company 6 lest I displease them

THE GOSSIPS’ FEAST

373

1 strong ale

I know a drawght of mery-go-down,1
The beste it is in all this town,

But yet I wolde not, for my gown,

My husbond wyste.’

' Ye may me triste,2 ^

Good gossippis myn, [a ! ’]

' Call forth owr gossippis by and by,

Elynore, Johan, and Margery,

Margret, Alis, and Cecely,

For )>ei will cum, I0

Both all and som,

Good gossippis myn, a !

And eche of them will sumwhat bryng,

Gose, or pigge, or capons wynge,

Pastes8 of pygynnes, or sum o)>er thyng ; 15

For we muste ete
Sum maner mett,

Good gossippis myn, a !

Go beffore by tweyn and tweyn,

Wisely, fat ye be not seen, 20

For I muste home and cum agayn,

To witt, ywis,

Wher my husbond is,

Good gossippis myn, a !

3°

2 trust s pasties, pies

A strype or two God myght send me,
Yf my husbond myght here see me.’

' She fat is aferde, lett her flee,’

Quod Alis than ;

' I dred no man,

Good gossippis myn, a ! ’

374

ILLUSTRATIONS OF LIFE AND MANNERS

' Now be we in ];e tavern sett,

A drawght of J>e best lett hym fett,

To bryng owr husbondis owt of dett,

For we will spend

5 Till God more send,

Good gossippis myn, a ! ’

Eche of them browght forth per disshe ;

Sum browght flesshe, and sum [browght] fisshe
Quod Margret meke now, with a wisshe :
io 'I wold Anne were here,

She wold mak us chere,

Good gossippis myn, a ! ’

' How say ye, gossippis ? Is jus wyn good ? ’

' pat is it,’ quod Elynore, ' by ]>e rode 1
15 It chereth }>e hart and comforteth j>e blod.

Such jonkets 1 amonge
Shall make us leve 2 long.

Good gossippis [myn, a] 1 ’

Anne bade me fill a pot of Muscadell,

20 ' For of all wynes I love it well ;

Swet wynes kepe my body in hele 8 ;

Yf I had it nowght,

I shuld tak thowght,

Good gossippis myn, a ! ’

2 5 ' How loke ye, gossip, at }>e bordis end ?

Not mery, gossip ? God it amend !

All shall be well, els God defend ;

Be mery and glad,

And sit not so sade,

30 Good gossip myn, a 1 ’

1 delicacies (drinks) ; MS. jonkers ; W. jonchettes

2 live

3 health, well-being

THE GOSSIPS’ FEAST 375

' Wold God I had don after your counsell,

For my husbond is so fell1
He betith me lyke ]>e devill of hell ;

And ]>e more I crye,
pe lesse mercy,

Good gossippis myn, a ! ’

Alis with a lowde voys spak than :

' Ywis,2 ’ she said, ' litill good he can,
pat betith or striketh any woman,

And specially his wyff ;

God geve hym short lyff,

Good gossippis myn, a ! ’

Margret meke said : ' So mot I thryve,

I know no man )>at is alyve

pat gevith me ii strokis, but he [shall] 8 have v ;

I am not afferd,

Thowgh he have a berde,

Good gossippis myn, a ! ’

On 4 cast down her shot,5 and went away.

' Gossip,’ quod Elynore, ' what dide she pay ? ’

' Not but a peny ; loo, Jerfor I say,

She shall no more
Be of owr lore,6

Good gossippis myn, a 1

Suche gestis 7 we may have ynow,

pat will not for per shot alowe.8

With whom com she, gossip ? ’ ' With you ! ’

' Nay,’ quod Johan,

' I com aloon,

Good gossippis myn, a ! ’

3°

1 cruel

2 W ; MS. evis
8 W.

4 one

5 contribution, share

6 school, sort

7 guests

8 provide

376 ILLUSTRATIONS OF LIFE AND MANNERS

1 MS. d.

2 fear

' Now rekyn owr shot, and go we hens ;

What cummeth to eche of us ? ’ ' But iii pens.1 ’

' Parde, ]ns is but a small expens
For suche a sorte,

And all but sporte,

Good gossipis myn, a ! ’

' Torn down ]>e stret, whan ye cum owt,

And we will cumpas rownd abowt.’

' Gossip,’ quod Anne, ' what nedith fat dowt ? 2
Your husbond is pleased,

Whan ye be eased,

Good gossippis myn, a !

Whatsoever any man thynk,

We com for nowght but for good drynk ;

Now let us go home and wynke,

For it may be seen
Wher we have ben,

Good gossippis myn, a ! ’

This is ]>e thowght pat gossippis take :

Ons in }?e wek, mery will they make,

And all small drynkis ]>ei will forsake ;

But wyne of ]>e best
Shall have no rest,

Good gossippis myn, a 1

Sum be at )>e tavern j>rise 3 in }te weke,

And so be sum every day eke,

Or ellis )>ei will gron and mak them sek,

For thyngis used
Will not be refused 4 ;

Good gossippis myn, a!

8 MS. Ill*0 4 for things one is accustomed

to cannot be done without

STANS PUER AD MENSAM

377

STANS PUER AD MENSAM

The following poem, by John Lydgate (1370 ?— 1451 ?), the follower and
imitator of Chaucer, is taken from the print of MS. Ilarl. 2251 (about 1460) in
The Babees Book, ed. Furnivall (E.E.T.S. 32). With its precepts one may
compare Chaucer’s characterization of the Prioress (Pro/. 127-36) :

At mete wel ytaught was she withalle ;

She leet no morsel from hir lippes falle,

Ne wette hir fingres in hir sauce depe.

Wel coude she carie a morsel, and wel kepe,
That no drope ne fille upon hir brest.

In curteisye was set ful muche hir lest.

Hir over lippe wyped she so clene
That in hir coppe was no ferthing sene
Of grece, whan she dronken hadde hir draughte.
Ful semely after hir mete she raughte.

Our extract comprises lines 15-42, 57-70. Two or three emendations are
from the Lambeth MS.

Who spekithe to the in any maner place,
Rudely cast nat thyn ye 1 adowne,

But with a sadde chiere 2 loke hym in the face.
Walke demurely by strete in the towne ;
Advertise the withe 8 wisdom and reasoune.
Withe dissolute laughters do thow non offence
Tofore4 thy soverayn,6 whiles he is in presence.

Pare clene thy nailes, thyn handes wasshe also
Tofore mete, and whan thow dooest arise ;

Sitte in that place thow art assigned to ;

Prease 6 nat to 7 hye in no maner wise ;

And til thow se afore the thy service,8
Be nat to hasty on brede for to byte,

Of gredynesse lest men wolde the edwyte.9

Grennyng and mowes 10 at the table eschewe 11 ;
Cry nat to loude ; kepe honestly 12 silence ;

1 eye

2 sober expression

3 turn your attention to

4 before

5 master

6 press
1 too

8 plate of food

9 reproach, twit; MS. end-

10 grinning and grimaces
H MS. eschowe

12 politely

378 ILLUSTRATIONS OF LIFE AND MANNERS

To enboce 1 thy jowis2 withe mete [it] is nat diewe3
With fu! mowthe speke nat, lest thow do offence ;
Drynk nat bretheles for hast ne necligence ;

Kepe clene thy lippes from fat of flesshe or fysshe ;
5 Wype clene thi spone, leve it nat in thy disshe.

Of brede ibyten no soppis 4 that thow make ;

In ale nor wyne withe hande leve no fattenes ;

With mowthe enbrewed 6 thi cuppe thou nat take ;
Defoule 6 no napery 7 for no rekelesnes ;
io [Loude] 8 for to souppe is agenst gentiles.

[N]evyr at mete begynne thow nat stryf 9 ;

Thi teth also thow pike nat with no knyf. . . .

Droppe nat thi brest withe sawce ne with potage ;
Brynge no knyves unskoured to the table ;

Fil nat thy spone, lest in the cariage

It went beside,10 whiche were nat comendable.

Be quyke and redy, meke and servisable,

Wele awaityng to fulfylle anone

What that thy soverayne comau[n]dithe to 11 be done.

And wharesoever that thow dyne or soupe,

Of gentilesse take salt withe thy knyf ;

And be wele ware thow blowe nat in the cuppe.
Reverence thy felawe, gynne 12 withe hym no stryf ;
Be 18 thy powere, kepe pees all thy lyf.

Interrupt nat, whereso [that] 14 thou wende,

None other mans tale, til he have made an ende.

1 stuff out

2 jaws

8 fitting
4 sops
6 soiled

6 defile ; MS. enbrewe (em.

from Lambeth MS.)

"> table-linen

8 em. from Lamb.

9 MS. stryf e

1° should spill over

11 MS. the to (em. from Lamb.

12 begin

18 according to
14 em. from Lamb.

PREFACE TO A TREATISE ON MEDICINE 379

CHARM FOR THE TOOTHACHE

From MS. Line. Cath. Thornton A. 1. 17, printed in Horstman’s edition of
Richard Rolle, 1.375.

Ay pe charrne thris to 1 it be sayd ix tymes , and ay
thris at a charemynge ,2

I conjoure the, laythely8 beste, with 4 ]>at ilke spere
pat Longyous 5 in his hande gane here,

And also with ane hatte of thorne
pat one my Lordis hede was borne,

With alle )>e wordis, mare and lesse,

With fe office of Jie messe,

With my Lorde and his xii postills,6
With oure Lady and hir x maydenys,

Saynt Margrete, ]>e haly quene,

Saynt Katerin, ]te haly virgyne —

Ix tymes Goddis forbott,7 Jk>u wikkyde worme,
pat ever ]>ou make any rystynge,8
Bot awaye mote )>ou wende
To ]>e erde 9 and )>e stane.10

PREFACE TO A TREATISE ON MEDICINE

From the Payne manuscript, of the first half of the fifteenth century, printed
in Furnivall’s Political , Religious , and Love Poems (E.E.T.S. 15). Readings
supplied from Sloane MS. 1314 are marked S.

The man f>at wol of lechecraft 11 lere,

Red ovyr this book, and he may here
Many medycinis both good and trewe,

To hele sores both oolde and newe,

And preciouse medycinis, ]>orw Goddis grace

2 charming

3 loathsome

4 by

1 till

who pierced the side of Christ

6 apostles

7 God forbid

5 Longus, or Longinus, the Roman soldier

8 delay (resting)

9 earth
1° stone

11 medicine

380 ILLUSTRATIONS OF LIFE AND MANNERS

To save mens 1 lyves in diverse place.
Cryst, fat made bothe Est and West,

Geve grace her sowles have 2 3 god rest,
Evere more in hevene for to be,

In hevene wyt fe Trinite !

Herinne be medycinis, wythoutyn fable,
To hele alle sores fat ben curable,

Of swerd, of knyf, and of arwe 8 —

Be fe wounde wyde or narwe —

Of sper,4 of quarel,5 of dagger, of dart,

To make him hool in ilka6 part,

So fe seek 7 wol do wysely,

And kepe himself fro surfety.

Be fe wounde nevere so deep,

J?erof thar8 him take no kep,

So fat he drynke save 9 or anteoche,10
Him thar 8 not drede of fat outrage :

Be 11 fat on and twenti days be goon,

He schal be hoi, both flesch and bon,

To ride and go in ilka 12 place,

Thorw fe verteu of Goddys grace.

Thus seyth Ypocras,18 fe good surgien,
And Socrates and Galyen,14
]?at weren philisophres alle thre,

)?at tyme fe best in any countree :

In Jus werld 15 were non her 16 pere,

As fer as any man coude here.

1 MS. men

2 may have

3 arrow

4 spear

5 a short, square-headed arrow

8 every ; MS. ylke, S. ilka

1° a medicinal potion of herbs
boiled in white wine and
honey

9 sage

~ if the sick man

8 he need ; MS. dar, S. thar

U by the time

12 MS. ylka, S. ilka

13 Hippocrates
44 Galen

15 MS. weld

16 their

A MEDIAEVAL WILL

381

A MEDIEVAL WILL

This will (from MS. Oxford Univ. Coll. 97), which the testator dates in the
year 1399, is here reprinted from Ilorstman’s edition of Richard Rolle, 2. 448-9.

In fe name of Almyghty Jesu, I, Robart F[olkyngham], beynge in
hool and cleere mynde, fe vi day of Juylle,1 fe jeere of our Lorde a
thousand fre hundreth foure score and nynetene, make my testament
and my laste wylle in f is manere. First, I bytake 2 my soule into fe
hondes of Almyjty God, bysechynge to oure lady, Seynte Marye, and 5
to alle fe hoole compaygnye of heven, to preye for mercy and grace for
me. Also I byqwethe my wrecchyd synfulle body to been heere in
erthe, abydyng fe dredful doom of God, in suche place and manere as
yt lyketh to his wyse endeles purveaunce.8 Also I wylle fat at myn
enterement |>ere be abowte my body bot twey4 tapres of wex, and 10
foure torches of wex, fe whiche torches I wille be jeven to brenne
atte ]>e levacioun 5 of f e sacrement whil fei wil dure,6 in fe same
chirche fat I schalle be beryed inne. Also I wille fat, in alle fe haste
pat yt may be doo after my deth, |>ere be sayde a thousande massez
for my soule, and for alle Cristen soules. Also I bequethe, to be doon 15
in almesse after 7 dyscrecioun of myn executours, in alle f e hast for
my soule, for fe soules of my fadre, modre, and of alle hem fat I am
endebtede to by way of kynde,8 by way of ffrendshipe, or by way of
restitucioun, for fe gode I have hade of heres 9 by any way, fourty
pounde of golde, and, over fat, fat fei have part of alle fe preyours, 20
goode dedes, and almesse fat I have do or ordeyned to be doo, as
wel in f is testament as tofore 10 in alle my lyf. Sythene,11 I jeve to
William Flete, my cosyn, fourty marke of golde and alle myn horses,
a blew bed of Arras werke, twey payre schetes, my best haberjoun,12 my
pysan,18 my ketylle-hat,14 and myn armynge sworde of Burdeux. Also 25
I bequeth to Johan of Brugge an haberjoun, a basynet,10 a longe dagger
of Burdeux hameyside 16 with sylver in manere of a sword.

1 July

2 commit

8 providence
4 two

6 lifting up
6 last

7 at the

8 kindred

9 theirs, them

10 before

11 next

12 habergeon, coat of mail

18 pisane (armor to protect
chest and neck)

14 kind of helmet

15 basinet (steel headpiece)

16 mounted

•382 ILLUSTRATIONS OF LIFE AND MANNERS

Also, I jeve to Thomas Salman an haberjoun and a basynet.

Also, I byqueth to William Flete, my cosyn, alle fe remanant of
myne armeure.

Also, I byqweth to Sir William Countour a longe sangwyn 1 gowne
5 furryd with Calabir.2

Also, I byqueth to Thomas Heighelme a gowne of blak worstede,
furred with bevere.

Also, I wylle fat alle fe debtez fat any man cane resonably axe,
fat fei been payed. And fe remanant of alle my goode, whereso
10 it be in fe handes of my debtours or elles,8 I beqweth it to Jonet,
my wyfe, to governe and susteyne with, hir and Elianore my dough-
tre, ande eke to doon in almesse for me, and for here, and for alle
hem fat we been endebted to doon for by any way, as sche may
resonabely, noujt amenysynge 4 gretely here lyflode ne here povre
15 stat. The execucioun of whiche thynges abovesayd after my laste
wille to be doon and fulfillide, I make myn executours Jonet my
wyfe, William Wenloke, Squiere, Sire William Countour, Preste,
Thomas Heighelme, Thomas Salman, William Flete, my cosyn ;
preyinge to hem for Goddes sake, for charitable dede of almesse,
20 and for fe sovereyn trust I have in hem, fat fei wille take f is
charge on hem, and refuse it by no maner way. Writen fe day
and sere tofore nempned,5 with myn owen honde, in witnesse of my
laste wille, and ensealede with my seal.

THE LIBEL OF ENGLISH POLICY

The Libel (or Little Book ) of English Policy , a plea for a strong navy, was
written, according to internal evidence, after the siege of Calais by the Duke
of Burgundy, in 1436, and before the death of the Emperor Sigismund in
143 7- Tlle siege of Calais, though unsuccessful, had roused England to a sense
of the importance of controlling the straits ; and the author of this poem, who
is unknown, cleverly shows how all the commerce of Europe (generally
directed toward the Low Countries) must needs pass through 'the narrow
sea.’ Control of the sea, therefore, would make England powerful. He reviews
the exports and imports of the chief countries of Europe, showing intimate

1 blood-red

2 a kind of squirrel-fur

3 elsewhere

4 diminishing

6 named

THE LIBEL OF ENGLISH POLICY 383

acquaintance with the commercial life of his age. He may in some respects
be compared with Chaucer’s merchant, who

wolde the see were kept for any thing
Bitwixe Middelburgh and Orewelle ;

and his line

Kepe thou the see, that is the walle of Englond,
recalls Shakespeare (Rich. II 2. 1.4S-50, 63) :

This precious stone, set in the silver sea,

Which serves it in the office of a wall,

Or as a moat defensive to a house. . . .

England bound in with the triumphant sea.

Ilis spirit, we are told (Traill, Social England 2. 347 ; cf. 340, 344 ff., 406) 'is
exactly the spirit which animated the sea-captains and merchant adventurers
of the golden age of Elizabeth.’

Our selections are from Wright’s Political Poems and Songs 2. 157-9, 160-1,
172-3, this text being printed from MS. Oxford Bodl. Laud. 704. Other
editions are by Hertzberg (1S78) and in Hakluyt, Principal Navigations , Glas¬
gow, 1903, 2. 114-47. Emendations in the following pages are from the two
other editions noted ; _^"has been changed to f.

The tretve processe of Englysh polycye - —

Of utterwarde 1 to kepe thys regne 2 in rest
Of oure England, that no man may denye,

Nere3 say of soth but it is one the best —

Is thys, that who seith 4 Southe, Northe, Est, and West, 5
Cheryshe marchandyse, kepe th’ amyralte,0
That we bee maysteres of the narowe see.6

For Sigesmonde, the grete emperoure

Whyche yet regneth, whan 7 he was in this londe
Wyth Kynge Herry the Fifte,8 prince of honoure, 10

Here moche glorye, as hym thought, he fonde 9 ;

A myghty londe, whyche hadde take on honde
To werre 10 in Fraunce and make mortalite,

And evere welle kepe 11 rounde aboute the see.

1 from (foes) without

- kingdom

3 nor

i professes to be of (?)

5 the admiralty

6 the Straits of Dover

7 In 1416

8 MS. V*»

9 MS. founde
1° war

H MS. kept

384 ILLUSTRATIONS OF LIFE AND MANNERS

And to the kynge thus he seyde : ' My brothere ’ —
Whan he perceyved too townes, Calys 1 and Dovere —
* Of alle youre townes to chese of one and othere,

To kepe the see, and sone to come overe
5 To werre oughtwardes,2 and youre regne to recovere,

Kepe these too townes, sire, to 3 youre mageste
As youre tweyne eyne,4 to kepe the narowe see.’

For if this see be kepte in tyme of werre,

Who cane here passe withought daungere and woo ?
io Who may eschape, who may myschef dyfferre5 ?

What marchaundye 6 may forby be agoo 7 ?

For nedes hem muste take truse 8 every foo —
Flaundres, and Spayne, and othere, trust to me —

Or ellis hyndered alle for thys narowe see.

iS Therfore I caste me, by a lytele wrytinge,

To shewe att eye9 thys conclusione,

For concyens, and for myne acquytynge
Ayenst God, and ageyne abusyon
And cowardyse, and to oure enmyes confusione ;

20 For iiii thynges our noble 10 sheueth to me —

Kyng, shype, and swerde, and pouer of the see.

Where bene oure shippes, where bene oure swerdes, become 11 ?

Owre enmyes bid for the shippe sette a shepe.

Allas ! oure reule halteth, hit is benome 12 ;

2 5 Who dare weel say that lordeshyppe shulde take kepe 13 ?

I wolle asaye, thoughe myne herte gynne to wepe,

To do thys werke, yf we wole ever the,14
For verry shame, to kepe aboute the see.15

1 Calais

2 outwards, in foreign lands

8 MS. and

4 eyes

5 postpone

6 merchandise

7 be carried past

8 make terms (with Eng¬

land)

9 to the eye

10 the gold coin called the

noble

11 what has become of

12 taken away

13 heed

44 prosper

15 guard the circuit of the
Channel

THE LIBEL OF ENGLISH POLICY

385

Shalle any prynce, what so be hys name,

Wheche hathe nobles moche lyche oures,

Be lorde of see, and Flemmyngis to oure blame
Stoppe us, take us, and so make fade the floures
Of Englysshe state, and disteyne 1 oure honnoures ?
For cowardyse, alias ! hit shulde so be ;

Therfore I gynne to wryte now of the see.

Knowe welle alle men that profites in certayne,2
Commodytes called, commynge out of Spayne,

And marchandy,8 who so wylle wete what that is,

Bene fygues, raysyns, wryne bastarde,4 and dates ;

And lycorys, Syvyle 8 oyle, and grayne,6
Whyte Castelle 7 sope, and wax, is not in vayne ;

Iren, wolle, wadmole,8 gotefel,9 kydefel 10 also —

For poynt-makers 11 fulle nedefulle be the two — -
Saffron, quiksilver, wheche arne Spaynes marchandy,
Is into Flaundres shypped fulle craftylye,

Unto Bruges, as to here staple 12 fayre ;

The haven of Sluse 18 they have 14 for here repayre,16
Wheche is cleped Swyn, thaire shyppes gydynge,
Where many vessells 16 and fayre arne abydynge.

But these merchandes, wyth there shyppes greet,

And suche chaffare 17 as they bye and gette
By the weyes, most nede take one honde
By the costes to passe of oure Englonde. . . .

And whenne these seyde marchauntz discharged be
Of marchaundy in Flaundres neere the see,

Than they be charged agayn wyth marchaundy
That to Flaundres longeth 18 full rychelye ;

7 sully

2 certain things

3 merchandise

4 a sweet wine, like muscadel
6 Seville

6 kermes

7 Castile

8 a coarse, hairy, woollen cloth

9 goatskin
10 kidskin

n those who made leather
lacing-strings

12 market

13 Sluys

14 MS. here havene

15 for them to resort to
18 vessels; MS. wessell

17 merchandise

18 belongs; MS.bougeth

(em. Hertzberg)

1340 gave England the

19. Sluse: Edward Ill’s naval victory at Sluys in
mastery of the Channel for centuries.

386 ILLUSTRATIONS OF LIFE AND MANNERS

Fyne clothe of Ipre,1 that named is better than oure is,
Cloothe of Curtryke,2 fyne cloothe of alle coloures,

Moche fustyane, and also lynen cloothe.

But ye Flemmyngis, yf ye be not wrothe,

The grete substaunce of youre cloothe, at the fulle,

Ye wot ye make hit of oure 3 Englissh wolle. . . .

The Janueys4 comyne in sondre wyses
Into this londe, wyth dyverse marchaundyses,

In grete karrekkis,5 arrayde wythouten lake
Wyth clothes of golde, silke, and pepir blake
They bringe wyth hem, and of wood 6 grete plente,
Woole-oyle, wood-aschen,7 by vessels 8 in the see,

Coton, roche-alum,9 and gode golde of Jene.10
And they be charged wyth wolle ageyne, I wene,

And wollene clothe of owres, of colours alle.

And they aventure, as ofte it dothe byfalle,

Into Flaundres wyth suche thynge as they bye,

That is here 11 cheffe staple sykerlye 12 ;

And if they wolde be oure fulle ennemyse,

They shulde not passe our stremez with merchaundyse. . . .

The grete galees 18 of Venees and Florence
Be wel ladene wyth thynges of complacence,14
Alle spicerye and 15 grocers ware,

Wyth swete wynes, alle manere of chaffare,

Apes, and japes,16 and marmusettes taylede,17
Nifles,18 trifles, that litelle have availede,

And thynges wyth whiche they fetely 19 blere 20 oure eye,
Wyth thynges not enduryng that we bye —

For moche of thys chaffare that is wastable
Mighte be forborne, for 21 dere and dyssevable.22

1 Ypres, in Belgium

2 Courtrai, in Belgium

8 MS. youre

4 Genoese

5 caraeks, galleons

6 woad (blue dyestuff)

" wood-ashes; MS. woad-

8 MS. wesshelle

9 rock alum

10 Genoa

11 their

12 in truth
18 galleys

14 things that give pleasure,
articles of luxury
16 MS. and of

48 trinkets

1' marmosets with tails

18 baubles, ' notions ’

19 cleverly

20 dim

21 as

22 deceptive

THE GUILD OF ST. LEONARD

387

THE GUILD OF ST. LEONARD

The following account of the guild of St. Leonard was returned to the ' King
in Council, by order of Parliament,’ in 1389. Our text of it is taken from
Toulmin Smith’s English Gilds (E.E.T.S. 40. 49-50).

In honore Saudi Leonardi confessoris. In ]>e worchep of God alle-
myghti, and of his modir Seynt Mary, and of alle pe holy company of
heven, and specially of pe holy confessour Seynt Leonard, pis gilde
was begonne in Damgate in pe toun of Lenne,1 porow pe devocion
of men and women, to fyndyn 2 beforn on ymage in pe Chirche of 5
Seynt Jame of Lenn, in pe worchep of God and of Seynt Leonard, on
candelle of i li.3 waxe, to brenne every 4 * festivale day in pe jere, aforn
pe ymage of Seynt Leonard. Alleso it is ordeyned, be on assent of
alle pe brethervn, pat everiche brothir and sistir shal offren at pe
chirche of Seynt Jame, on pe Soneday nexte aftir pe fest of Seynt 10
Leonard,0 ob.,6 in pe worchep of God and Seynt Leonard. Alleso it
is ordeyned, be on assent of pe brethren, to have foure morspeches 7
in pe jere. J^e firste shal bene pe Moneday neste aftir pe forseide
Soneday. And at pat mornspeche, porow on assent of alle pe brethen,
to chesen 8 an aldirman, wise and able to reule pe company to pe 1 5
worchep of God ; and also foure men for to reseyven and kepyn
pe katel 9 of pe gilde ; and also on certayne oficere to warnyn alle pe
brethren to comyn to chirche ; and also on clerke, to wryten pe katel
of pe gilde. Jte secunde morspeche shal bene aftir pe Purificacioun
of our Levedy.10 ]?e thred, aftir pe feste of Phelip and Jacob.11 pe 20
fourte, aftir pe feste of Seynt Petre Ad Vincula .12 Alleso it is ordeyned,
be on assent of pe brethren, be als mechil as 13 pe lyght fornseide ne
may nout be meyntened in pe tyme for to come, every man pat wille
with good devocion comyn into pis ffraternite shal pay iii s. Alleso,
if any brothir or sistir deye, pe aldirman shal comand pe oficere to 25
warnyn alle pe bretheryn and sisteryn to bryng pe cors to pe chirche,

1 Lynn (King’s Lynn, of

Norfolk)

2 provide

8 one pound

4 MS. overy

6 St. Leonard’s day is Nov. 6

6 a half-penny (obolus)

1 periodical assemblies held
on the morrow after the
guild-feast

8 choose

9 property

1° Feb. 2

U Philip and James;

May 1
l2 Aug. 1
18 inasmuch as

388 ILLUSTRATIONS OF LIFE AND MANNERS

with waxe brennend, and pe waxe for to brenne in pe tyme of service.
And every bropir and sistir shal offren at pe messe for pe body ob.
^yefe any brothir or sistir of pis company be in any mischefe, porow
losse of pe se,1 or any other myshappes, porow Godes 2 sond,8 pe com-
5 pany shal ben gadered togedir and helpyn hym. (^efe any broker or
sistir of pis gild dye within a mile abouten, and have nout whereof to
bryng hym to pe erthe,4 pe aldirman and pe gilde-brethren shuln wend,
and bryng hym to pe erthe on peire owe costages.® And if any bropir
dye within )>e iii mile aboutyn, pe aldirman shal gon and beryne 6 hym,
io or ellis hyren a man of here costages to bryng hym to pe erthe. ]?ere
shal no bro]>ir ne sistir sene othir in prison, pat 7 he shal comyn and
vesyten hym, and comfordyn hym in his powere. Also, if any bro}>ir
or sistir of pis gild dye, he shal have xv messes songyn for his soule.
Also, what man or woman of pis gilde be rebel ageyne pe lawe of
1 5 Holy Chirche, he shal lese 8 pe fraternite of pis gilde tille he come to
amendment.

Be it open to gow, be pes presentes, pat we, fulliche undirstondend
gour lettres sent to us, seyend on pis manere, pat we shuld send gow
a kopy of our statuz, and also pe summe of our katel, we do gow
20 openliche to wetyn pat pe summe of our katel is xxi s. viii d., redy to
our lord pe kinges wille.

1 at sea

2 MS. goodes

3 dispensation

4 bury him

8 at their own expense
8 bury

7 but that

8 lose

TRANSLATIONS

CHAUCER, THE ROMANCE OE THE ROSE

The Roman de la Rose, one of the most celebrated and influential poems of
the Middle Ages, is the work of two poets, Guillaume de Lords and Jean de
Meun, the former writing about 1237, and the latter about 1277. Of the 22,817
lines in Michel’s edition (the most accessible), Guillaume wrote 4669, and Jean
the remainder. Gaston Paris has characterized Guillaume’s part by its use of
the dream as a frame ; of allegory (the maiden as a rose) ; of a garden as the
scene of the poem; and of personification. Jean de Meun’s part is more
formless, and makes much parade of learning.

The translation into Middle English consists of 769S lines. Until about
1868 Chaucer’s authorship of the whole of this version was not doubted,
especially as Cupid is represented as saying to Chaucer, in the Prologue to the
Legend of Good Women (B) :

For in pleyn text, withouten nede of glose,

Thou hast translated the Romaunce of the Rose.

At present three divisions are recognized: 1-1705 (A), 1706-5810 (B), 5811-
7698 (C), corresponding respectively to 1-1678, 1679-5875, and 11,444-13,299
of the French (Michel’s edition). Nearly all scholars agree that A is by
Chaucer, and that B is not ; Kaluza believes that C is also by Chaucer, but this
view has not been generally accepted.

Through Guillaume de Digulleville, or Guilevile (d. about 1360), the French
Roman may have had an influence on the Pilgrim's Progress (see Hammond,
Chaucer, pp. 76-7).

For the French original, see Gaston Paris, Litt. Fr. an Moyen Age, chap. 5 ;
Petit de Julleville, Hist, de la Langne et de la Litt. Fr. 2. 105-61 (Langlois) ;
Hammond, Chaucer, pp. 78-9 ; where bibliographies may be found. The
Roman has been translated into English by F. S. Ellis (Temple Classics,
3 vols.). For a bibliography of the English translation, see Hammond, Chaucer,
pp. 450-4.

The subjoined text is based upon the reprint of the unique manuscript
(Hunterian Museum, Glasgow, V. 3. 7) by Kaluza, issued by the Chaucer
Society in 1891. Omissions in the manuscript have been supplied from
Thynne’s edition, and a few emendations have been admitted. The extracts
below are, respectively, lines 49-89, 1 10-43, 349-68. To lines 7 1-89 of the ver¬
sion I subjoin 67-83 of the French (Michel), for the purpose of comparison.

389

390

TRANSLATIONS

3°

THE JOYS OF SPRING

That it was May me thought[e] tho,

It is v yere or more ago ;

That it was May, thus dremed me,

In tyme of love and jolite,

That al thing gynneth waxen gay,

For ther is neither busk 1 nor hay 2
In May, that it nyl shrouded8 bene,

And it with newe leves wrene.4
These wodes eek recoveren gr[e]ne,

That drie in wynter ben to sene ;

And the erth wexith proude withall,

For swote8 dewes that on it fall,

And the pore estat forgette
In which that winter had it sette ;

And than bycometh the ground so proude
That it wole have a newe shroude,

And makith so queynt his robe and faire
That it hath 0 hewes an hundred payre
Of gras and flouris, ynde 7 and pers,8
And many hewes ful dyvers ;

[That is the robe I] 9 mene, iwis,

[Through whiche the] ground to preisen 10 is.

{The byrdes, that ha]ven lefte her song,
While thei [han suffr]ide cold so strong
In wedres gryl,11 and derk to sight,

Ben in May, for the sonne bright,

So glade, that they shewe in syngyng
That in her hertis is sich lykyng
That they mote syngen and be light.

Than doth the nyghtyngale hir myght

1 bush

2 hedge

3 clothed

4 cover

6 sweet

6 MS. had (em. Skeat)

7 dark blue (indigo)

8 sky-blue

9 From Thynne’s edition,

and so the next lines

10 to be praised, admired

11 disagreeable

CHAUCER, THE ROMANCE OF THE ROSE

To make noyse, and syngen blythe ;
Than is blisful, many sithe,

The chela[un]dre 1 and [the] papyngay.2
Than yong[e] folk entenden ay
For to ben gay and amorous,

The tyme is than so faverous.3
Hard is the hert that loveth nought
In May, whan al this mirth is wrought,
Whan he may on these braunches here
The smale briddes syngen clere
Her blesful swete song pitous.

Li oisel, qui se sunt teii
Tant com il ont le froit eii,

Et le tens divers et frarin,

Sunt en Mai, por le tens serin,

Si lie' qu’il monstrent en chantant
Qu’en lor cuer a de joie tant,

Qu’il lor estuet chanter par force.

Li rossignos lores s’esforce
De chanter et de faire noise ;

Lors s’esvertue, et lors s’envoise
Li papegaus et la kalandre :

Lors estuet jones gens entendre
A estre gais et amoreus
Por le tens bel et doucereus.

Moult a dur cuer qui en Mai n’aime,
Quant il ot chanter sus la raime
As oisiaus les dous chans piteus.

a kind of lark (a Mediterranean species)

2 parrot, popinjay

392

TRANSLATIONS

THE RIVER AND THE GARDEN

Toward a ryver gan I me dresse1
That I herd renne fast[e] by ;

For fairer plaiyng non saugh I
Than playen me by that ryvere,

5 For from an hill that stood ther nere

Cam doun the streme ful stif and bold.

Cleer was the water, and as cold
[As any welle is, sot]2h to seyn ;

[And somdele lasse 8] it was than Seyn,
io [But it was stray]ghter wel away.

[And never sau]gh I, er that day,

The watir that so wel lyked 4 me ;

And wondir glad was I to se
That lusty place, and that ryvere ;

15 And with that watir that ran so clere

My face I wysshe.5 Tho saugh I well
The botme paved everydell
With gravel, ful of stones shene.6
The medewe softe, swote,7 and grene,

20 Beet 8 right on the watirsyde.

Ful clere was than the morowtyde,9
' And ful attempre,10 out of drede.

Tho gan I walk thorough the mede,

Dounward ay in my pleiyng,

25 The ryversyde costeiyng.11

And whan I had a while goon,

I saugh a gardyn right anoon,

Ful long and brood, and everydell
Enclosed was, and walled well,

30 With high[e] walles enbatailled,

Portraied without, and wel entailled 12

1 direct 6 washed 9 morning

2 From Thynne, and so next lines 6 glistening 1° mild

8 smaller 7 sweet 11 coasting, skirting

4 pleased 8 adjoined (lit. beat upon) 12 carved

CHAUCER, THE ROMANCE OF THE ROSE 393

With many riche portraitures ;

And bothe the ymages and the peyntures
Gan I biholde bysyly.

THE PICTURE OF OLD AGE

Elde 1 was [ijpaynted after this,

That shorter was a foote, iwys, 5

Than she was wont in her yonghede.2
Unneth3 herselfe she might[e] fede ;

So feble and eke so olde was she
That faded was al her beaute.

Ful salowe was waxen hir coloure, 10

Hir heed for hore 4 was whyte as floure ;

Iwys, great qualme5 ne were it none,

Ne synne, although her lyfe were gone.

Al woxen was her body unwelde,6

And drie and dwyned 7 al for elde ; 15

A foule forwelked 8 thyng was she
That whylom rounde and soft had be.

Hir eeres shoken faste withall,

As from her heed they wolde fall.

Her face frounced 9 and forpyned,10 2c

And bothe hir hondes lome,11 fordwined.12
So olde she was that she ne went
A foote, but it were by potent.18

1 old age

2 youth

8 with difficulty
4 hoariness
6 evil

1 dwindled

8 withered

9 wrinkled

6 unwieldy, impotent

1° wasted away

11 forlorn

12 shrunken
1* crutch

394

TRANSLATIONS

CHAUCER’S TRANSLATION OF BOETHIUS

Boethius (ca. 475-524) was a Roman patrician and consul in the reign of
Theodoric. His Consolation of Philosophy , said to have been written during his
imprisonment by Theodoric, is preserved in hundreds of manuscripts, and was
regarded as the standard handbook of philosophy until the Renaissance. This
book, which is partly in verse and partly in prose, was translated into prose by
Chaucer, while allusions to it, and versions or paraphrases of many passages,
are scattered through his works. See Cook and Tinker, Sel. Trans, from Old
Eng. Prose , p. 1 r 6, and the works mentioned there.

The passages here printed are from Book 2 (Metre 5, and a bit of Prose 6),
and comprise ( 1 ) Chaucer’s prose ; (2) the original Latin ; (3) a few lines of the
Old English translations, prose and verse, due to King Alfred ; (4) a portion of
Chaucer’s The Former Age (following MS. Camb. Univ. Ii. 3. 21), which is
partly a paraphrase of the same passage. It will be noted that various glosses
rendered by Chaucer in the prose version are printed in italics. The Latin
lines corresponding to a given part of the first version are indicated in square
brackets.

[1-5] Blisful was the first age of men! They helden hem apayed 1
with the metes 2 * that the trewe 8 feldes broughten forth. They ne dis-
troyede nor deceivede nat hemself with outrage.4 They weren wont
lightly to slaken hir hunger at even with acornes of okes. [6-10] They
5 ne coude nat medle 5 the yifte of Bachus to the cleer hony ; that is to
seyn, they coude make no pirnent 6 nor clarree 7 ; ne they coude nat medle
the brighte fleeses of the contree of Seriens8 with the venim 9 of
Tyrie 10 ; this is to seyn , they coude nat deyen whyte fleeses of Serien
contree with the Mode of a maner shelfisshe that men finden in Tyrie ,
10 with which e Mood men deyen purpur. They slepen hoolsom slepes upon
the gras, [11— 15] and dronken of the renninge wateres ; and layen
under the shadwes of the heye pyn-trees. Ne no gest ne straungere
ne carf 11 yit the heye see with ores or with shippes ; ne they ne
hadde seyn yit none newe strondes, to leden marchaundyse into dy-
15 verse contrees. [16-20] Tho weren the cruel clariouns ful hust12
and ful stille, ne blood yshad by egre13 hate ne hadde nat deyed

1 contented, satisfied

2 kinds of food

8 faithful

4 excess

8 mingle, mix; MS. medly

6 wine mixed with honey ( usu¬

ally spiced wine)

7 wine mixed with honey, and

then clarified

8 Chinese

9 dye

10 Tyre
n cut

12 silent, hushed
18 fierce, bitter

CHAUCER’S TRANSLATION OF BOETHIUS 395

yit armures.1 For wherto or which woodnesse 2 of enemys wolde first
moeven8 armes, [21-26] whan they seyen cruel woundes, ne none
medes 4 be of blood yshad ? I wolde that oure tymes sholde torne
ayein to the olde maneres ! But the anguissous 8 love of havinge bren-
neth in folk more cruely than the fyr of the mountaigne Ethna, that ay 5
brenneth. [27-30] Allas ! what was he that first dalf 6 up the gobetes 7
or the weightes of gold covered under erthe, and the precious stones
that wolden han ben hid ? He dalf up precious perils. That is to seyn,
that he that hem first up dalf, he dalf up a precious peril; for why 8
for the preciousnesse of swiche thinge hath many man ben in peril. 10

[Prose] But what shal I seye of dignitees and of powers, the whiche
ye men, that neither knowen verray9 dignitee ne verray power,
areysen 10 hem as heye as the hevene ? The whiche dignitees and
powers, yif they comen to any wikked man, they don as grete
damages and destrucciouns as doth the flaumbe 11 of the mountaigne 1 5
Ethna, whan the flaumbe walweth 12 up ; ne no deluge ne doth so
cruel harmes.

Felix nimium prior aetas,
Contenta fidelibus arvis
Nec inerti perdita luxu,

Facili quae sera solebat
Jejunia solvere glande.

Non Bacchica munera norant
Liquido confundere melle,

Nec lucida vellera Serum
Tyrio miscere veneno.

Somnos dabat herba salubres,
Potum quoque lubricus amnis,
Umbras altissima pinus.
Nondum maris alta secabat,
Nec mercibus undique lectis
Nova litora viderat hospes.

3°

1 armor

2 madness, rage

3 stir up

4 rewards

5 tormenting

6 dug

7 lumps

8 wherefore

8 true

10 exalt

11 flame

12 rolls, tosses

396

TRANSLATIONS

Tunc classica saeva tacebant,

Odiis neque fusus acerbis
Cruor horrida tinxerat arva.

Quid enim furor hosticus ulla
5 Vellet prior arma movere,

Cum vulnera sseva viderent,

Nec prsemia sanguinis ulla?

Utinam modo nostra redirent
In mores tempora priscos !
io Sed, saevior ignibus yEtnae,

Fervens amor ardet habendi.

Heu ! primus quis fuit ille
Auri qui pondera tecti,

Gemmasque latere volentes,

15 Pretiosa pericula, fodit?

Quid autem de dignitatibus potentiaque disseram qua vos verae dig¬
nitatis ac potestatis inscii caelo exaequatis ? Quae si in improbissimum
quemque ceciderunt quae flammis yEtnae eructuantibus, quod diluvium
tantas strages dederint ?

20 Treowa waestmas hi aeton and wyrta ; nalles sclr win hi ne druncan,
ne nanne wtetan hi ne cupon wiS hunige mengan, ne seolocenra hrasgla
mid mistlicum bleowum hi ne gimdon. Ealne weg hi slepon ute on
triowa sceadum ; hluterra wella waeter hi druncon. Ne geseah nan
cepa ealand ne weroS, ne geherde non mon )>a get nanne sciphere.

25 And hi aene on daege mton symle

On aefentid eorjian waestmas,

Wudes and wyrta ; nalles win druncon
Scir of steape. Naes ]>a scealca nan
pe mete oI5?ie drinc maengan cuSe,

30 Waeter wi5 hunige, ne heora waeda fon ma

Sioloce siowian, ne hi siarocraeftum
Godweb giredon, ne hi gimreced
Setton searolice, ac hi simle him
Eallum tidum ute slepon

CHAUCER’S TRANSLATION OF BOETHIUS 39/

Under beamsceade ; druncon burnan waster,
Calde wellan. Nainig cepa ne seah
Ofer eargeblond ellendne wearod,

Ne huru ymbe sciphergas sietilcas ne herdon.

THE FORMER AGE

A blysful lyf, a paysyble and a swete,

Ledden the poeples in the former age ;

They helde hem paied 1 of fructes 2 Rat )iey ete,
Whiche ]>at the feldes yave hem by usage 3 ;

They ne weere nat forpampred 4 with owtrage.6
Onknowyn was j>e quyerne 6 and ek the melle 7 ;
They eten mast, hawes, and swych pownage,8
And dronken water of the colde welle.

Yit nas the grownd nat wownded with ]>e plowh,
But corn upsprong, unsowe of mannes hond,
pe which they gnodded,9 and eete nat half inowh.
No man yit knewe the forwes 10 of his lond ;

No man the fyr owt of the flynt yit fonde ;
Unkorven 11 and ungrobbed 12 lay the vyne ;

No man yit in the morter spices grond,

To 18 clarre ne to sawse of galentyne.14

No madyr,15 welde,16 or wod 17 no litestere 18
Ne knewh ; the fles 19 was of [h]is former hewe ;
No flessh ne wyste offence of egge'20 or spere ;

No coyn ne knewh man which was 21 fals or trewe ;

1 satisfied

2 MS. the fructes

8 customarily, regularly
4 pampered
s excess
6 hand-mill
" mill

8 swine’s food

9 rubbed, bruised ; cf. Rom.

passage seems imitated
from Boethius) : ' Et des
espis des bl£s frotoient’

It woad

18 dyer

19 fleece

20 edge

21 MS. is

18 dyeweed, yellowweed

1° furrows

11 unpruned

12 not digged round

18 for

I4 a mixture of ginger, grated

Rose 9124 (the whole

bread, vinegar, etc.
15 madder

39s TRANSLATIONS

No ship yit karf the wawes grene and blewe ;
No marchaunt yit ne fette owtlandissh ware;
No trompes1 for the werres folk ne knewe,
Ne towres heye, and walles rownde or square.

5 What sholde it han avayled to werreye 2 ?

Ther lay no profyt, ther was no rychesse ;

But corsed was the tyme, I dar wel seye,
pat men fyrst dede hir swety bysynesse
To grobbe up metal, lurkynge in derknesse,8
io And in |>e ryverys fyrst[e] gemmys sowhte.

Allas ! than sprong up al the cursydnesse
Of coveytyse, ]>at fyrst owr sorvve browhte.

WYCLIFFITE TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE

The extracts here given are from the second Wycliffite version of the
Vulgate (ca. 1388), which is not so awkwardly literal as the earlier (ca. 1380).
An interesting study of the Wycliffite Epistle to the Romans, compared with
the Latin and another (fragmentary) Middle English rendering, has been
published by Dr. Emma C. Tucker ( Yale Studies in English , No. 49).

JOB 41. 20-28; 42.4-25

Whether thou schalt mowe drawe out levyathan with an hook, and
sehalt bynde with a roop his tunge ? Whethir thou schalt putte a
1 5 ryng in hise nosethirlis, ethir schalt perse hyse cheke with an hook ?
Whether he schal multiplie preieris to thee, ether schal speke softe
thingis to thee ? Whether he schal make covenaunt with thee, and
thou schalt take him a servaunt everlastinge ? Whether thou schalt
scorne hym as a brid, ethir schalt bynde hym to thin handmaidis ?
20 Schulen frendis kerve hym ? schulen marchauntis departe hym ?
Whether thou schalt fille nettis with his skyn, and a leep 4 of fischis
with his heed ? Schalt thou putte thin hond on hym ? have thou
mynde of the batel, and adde no more to speke. Lo, his hope schal
disseyve hym ; and in the sijt of alle men he schal be cast doun. . . .

1 MS. batails trompes 2 fight 3 MS. dirkenesse 4 basket

WYCLIFFITE TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE 399

Who schal schewe the face of his clothing, and who schal entre into
the myddis of his mouth ? Who schal opene the jatis of his cheer 1 ?
ferdfulnesse 2 is bi the cumpas of hise teeth. His bodi is as jotun 8
scheldys of bras, and joyned togidere with scabs overleiynge hemsilf.4
Oon is joyned to another, and sotheli brething goith not thoroug 5
tho.5 Oon schal cleve to anothir, and tho holdynge hemsilf schulen
not be departid.15 His fnesynge 7 is as schynynge of her, and hise
ijen 8 ben as ijelidis of the morewtid.9 Laumpis comen forth of his
mouth, as trees 10 of her that ben kyndlid. Smoke cometh forth of
hise nosethirlis, as of a pot set on the her and boilynge. His breeth 10
maketh cobs to brenne, and flawme goith out of his mouth. Strengthe
schal dwelle in his necke, and nedynesse 11 schal go bifor his face. The
membris of hise fleischis ben clevynge togidere to hemsilf ; God schal
sende floodis 12 ajens hym, and tho schulen not be borun to another
place. His herte schal be maad hard as a stoon ; and it schal be 15
streyned 13 togidere as the anefeld 14 of a smith. Whanne he schal be
takun awei, aungels schulen drede ; and thei, aferd, schulen be purgid.15
Whanne swerd takith hym, it may not stonde, nethir spere, nether
haburjoun.16 For he schal arette irun as chaffis, and bras as rotun tre.

A man archere schal not dryve hym awei ; stoonys of a slynge ben 20
turned into stobil to hym. He schal arette 17 an hamer as stobil,18 and
he schal scorne a florischynge 19 spere. The beemys of the sunne
schulen be undur hym ; and he schal strewe to hymsilf gold as cley.

He schal make the depe se to buyle as a pot ; and he schal putte 20
as whanne oynementis buylen. A path schal schyne aftir hym ; he 25
schal gesse 21 the greet occian as wexynge eld. No power is on erthe
that schal be comparisound to hym, which is maad that he schulde
drede noon. He seeth al hij thing ; he is kyng over alle the sones
of pride.

1 face

2 terror
8 molten

4 one another

5 them

6 separated

7 sneezing

8 eyes

9 morning

10 torches

11 want, poverty

12 Lat. fulmina , read as flumina
18 compacted

I4 anvil

I5 purified
1° breastplate

47 esteem

48 stubble

19 brandishing, waving

20 regard (it)

21 esteem

400

TRANSLATIONS

JOHN 17. 1-6

These thingis Jesus spak, and whanne he hadde cast up hise igen
into hevene, he seide : ' Fadir, the our cometh ; clarifie 1 thi sone,
that thi sone clarifie thee ; as thou hast jovun to hym power on ech
fleisch, that al thing that thou hast jovun to hym, he jyve to hem
5 everlastynge liif. And this is everlastynge liif, that thei knowe thee
very God aloone, and whom thou hast sent, Jesu Crist. Y have
clarified thee on the erthe ; Y have endid the werk that thou hast
jovun to me to do. And now, Fadir, clarifie thou me at2 thisilf, with
the clerenesse 8 that Y hadde at thee bifor the world was maad. Y
io have schewid thi name to tho men whiche thou hast jovun to me of
the world ; thei weren thine, and thou hast govun hem to me, and
thei han kept thi word.

REVELATION 14

And Y sai, and lo ! a Lomb stood on the mount of Sion, and with
hym an hundrid thousynde and foure and fourti thousynde, havynge
15 his name, and the name of his Fadir, writun in her forhedis. And Y
herde a vois fro hevene, as the vois of many watris, and as the vois
of a greet thundur ; and the vois which is herd was as of many
harperis harpinge in her harpis ; and thei sungun as a newe song
bifor the seete 4 of God, and bifore the foure beestis and senyouris ;
20 and no man migte seie the song but thei, an hundrid thousynde and

1 glorify 2 with ; Lat. apud 8 glory 4 throne

i. thingis: cf. the Old English of verses 1-3:

Das hing se Htelend sprsec, and ahof upp his eagan to heofenum, and cwselS : ' F seder,
tld ys cumen ; geswutela Junne Sunu, pset Jun Sunu geswutelige J>e ; and swa f>u him
sealdest anweald selces mannes, paet he sylle ece Ilf eallum [jam he t>h him sealdest.
Dis ys sohlice ece lif, hast hi oncnawon pst J>u eart an soJ> God, and se he hu sendest,
Hselynde Crist.’

Tyndale has :

These wordes spake Jesus, and lifte uppe his eyes to heven, and sayde : ' Father, the
houre is come ; glorify thy Sonne, that thy Sonne maye glorify the ; as thou hast geven
hym power over all fleshe, that he shulde geve eternall life to as many as thou hast
geven him. This is life eternall, that they myght knowe the, that only very God, and
whom thou hast sent, Jesus Christ.’

WYCLIFFITE TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE 401

foure and fourti thousynde, that ben bougt fro the erthe. These it
ben that ben not defoulid with wymmen, for thei ben virgyns. These
suen the Lomb whidir ever he schal go. These ben bougt of alle men,
the firste fruytis to God and to the Lomb ; and in the mouth of hem
lesyng1 is not foundun, for thei ben without wem 2 bifor the trone 5
of God. And Y say another aungel, fliynge bi the myddil of hevene,
havynge an everlastinge gospel that he schulde preche to men sittynge
on erthe, and on ech folk, and lynage, and langage, and puple ; and
seide with a greet vois : ' Drede ge the Lord, and gyve ge to hym
onour, for the our of his dom cometh ; and worschipe ge hym that 10
made hevene and erthe, the see, and alle thingis that ben in hem, and
the wellis of watris.’ And anothir aungel suede,3 seiynge : ' Thilke
greet Babiloyne fel doun, fel doun, which gaf drinke to alle folkis of
the wyn of wraththe of her fornycacioun.’ And the thridde aungel
suede hem, and seide with a greet vois : ' If ony man worschipe the 15
beeste and the ymage of it, and takith the carecter 4 in his forheed,
ether in his hoond, this schal drynke of the wyn of Goddis wraththe,
that is meynd 5 with clere wyn in the cuppe of his wraththe, and schal
be turmentid with her and brymston, in the sigt of hooli aungels, and
bifore the sigt of the Lomb ; and the smoke of her turmentis schal 20
stie 6 up into the worldis of worldis ; nether thei han reste dai and
nigt, whiche worschipiden the beeste and his ymage, and yf ony man
take the carect of his name. Here is the pacience of seyntis, whiche
kepen the maundementis of God, and the feith of Jesu.’ And Y herde
a vois fro hevene seiynge to me: ' Write thou, Blessid ben deed men 25
that dien in the Lord ; fro hennus forth now the Spirit seith that thei
reste of her traveilis ; for the werkis of hem suen hem.’ And Y say,7
and lo a white cloude, and above the cloude a sittere, liik the Sone of
man, havynge in his heed a goldun coroun, and in his hond a scharp
sikil. And another aungel wente out of the temple, and criede with 30
greet vois to hym that sat on the cloude : ' Sende thi sikil, and repe,
for the our cometh that it be ropun ; for the corn of the erthe is ripe.’
And he that sat on the cloude sente his sikil into the erthe, and rap
the erthe. And another aungel wente out of the temple that is in

1 falsehood

2 blemish

3 followed

4 mark

6 mingled
6 rise

7 looked

402

TRANSLATIONS

hevene, and he also hadde a scharp sikile. And another aungel wente
out fro the auter, that hadde power on her and water ; and he criede
with a greet vois to hym that hadde the scharp sikil, and seide :
' Sende thi scharp sikil, and kitte awei the clustris of the vynjerd
of the erthe, for the grapis of it ben ripe.’ And the aungel sente his
sikil into the erthe, and gaderide grapis of the vyngerd of the erthe,
and sente into the greet lake of Goddis wraththe. And the lake was
troddun without the citee, and the bloode wente out of the lake til to
the bridels of horsis, bi furlongis a thousynd and six hundrid.

VERSIONS OF PSALM 51. 1-3
LATIN

Miserere mei, Deus, secundum magnam misericordiam tuam ; et se¬
cundum multitudinem miserationum tuarum dele iniquitatem meam.
Amplius lava me ab iniquitate mea, et a peccato meo munda me.
Quoniam iniquitatem meam cognosco, et peccatum meum contra me
est semper.

ABOUT 1200

Vices and Virtues , in Smyth, Biblical Quotations in Middle English Litera¬
ture ( Yale Studies in English , No. 41), p. 42.

Hlaverd, . . . after-Sat-Se 'Sin mildce ys michel, have ore of mine
michele senne ; and after Sine manifealde mildces Se Su hafst ihafd
to mankenne, Hlaverd, do awei fram me Sese michele unrihtwisnesse.

A.D. 1300-1350

Bulbring, Earliest Complete English Prose Psalter , p. 60

Ha mercy on me, God, efter }ry mychel mercy ; and efter )>e
mychelnes of )>y pites do way my wickednes. Whasshe me more
of my wickednes, and dense me of myn synne. For ich knowe my
wickednes, and my synne ys evermore ojains me.

VERSIONS OF PSALM 51. 1-3

403

A.D. 1350-1400

Horstmann, Richard Rolle, pp. 182-3

God, ]>ou have mercy of me,

After mikel mercy of )>e ;

And after of ]n reuses ]>e mikelnes
]?ou do awai mi wickednes.

Nou mare me wasche of min ivel bidene, 5

And of mi sinne ]>ou klens me klene.

For mi wicke[d]nes I knaw ]>at I am inne,

And ai ogain me es mi sinne.

ABOUT 1388
Wycliffe

God, have thou merci on me, bi thi greet merci ; and bi the mychil-
nes of thi merciful doyngis do thou awei my wickidnesse. More 10
waische thou me fro my wickidnesse, and dense thou me fro my
synne. For V knouleche my wickidnesse, and my synne is evere
ageyns me.

ABOUT 1460

Political , Religions , and Love Songs (reprint of E.E.T.S. 15), pp. 279-80

Mercy, God, of my mysdede,

For ]>i mercy pat mychel ys ; 15

Lat pi pite sprynge and sprede,

Off pi mercy pat I ne mys.

After gostly grace I grede 1 ;

Good God, pou graunt me pis,
pat I may lyve in love and drede, 20

And never after do 2 more amys.

And after pi mercies pat ben fele,3
Lord, fordo my wickydnesse ;

1 cry MS. to do 8 many

404

TRANSLATIONS

^yve me grace to hyde and hele
The blame of my bruchelnesse.

^if any sterynge 1 on me stele
Out of pe clos of pi clennesse,

5 Wysse me, Lord, in wo and weele,

And kepe me fram unkyndnesse.

Moreover, wasche me of my synne,

And of my gultes clanse pow me ;

And serche my soule without and inne,
io That I no more defowlid be.

And as pyn hert aclef atwynne 2
With doleful deth on pe rode-tre,

Late me never no werke bigynne,

Lord, but-gif 3 it lyke pee.

15 For al my wickidnesse I knowe,

And my synne is ever me ageyn ;
Therfore late |>i grace growe,

Jesu, pat was with Jewis sleyn.

Ryche and pore, hye and lowe,

20 Smale and gret[e], in certeyn,

Atte Domesdaie, when pou schalt blowe,
Of pi mercy schul be ful feyn.

A.D. 1535
Coverdale

Have mercy upon me (O God), after thy goodnes ; and acordinge
unto thy greate mercies do awaye myne offences. Wash me well fro
25 my wickednesse, and dense me fro my synne. For I knowlege my
fautes, and my synne is ever before me.

1 guidance (?) ; stirring (?)

2 burst in twain

8 unless

VERSIONS OF PSALM 51. 1-3

405

A.D. 1560
Geneva Version

Have mercie upon me, O God, according to thy loving kindenes ;
according to the multitude of thy compassions put awaie mine iniqui¬
ties. Wash me throughly from mine iniquitie, and dense me from my
sinne. For I knovve mine iniquities, and my sinne is ever before me.

A.D. 1611
Authorized Version

Have mercie upon mee, O God, according to thy loving kindnesse ; 5
according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my trans¬
gressions. Wash mee throughly from mine iniquitie, and dense me
from my sinne. For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sinne
is ever before mee.

LYRICS

CUCKOO SONG

About 1240 (New Eng. Diet.). From MS. Brit. Mus. Harl. 978, where it is
accompanied by the music. The author of this rondel, rota, or round, may
perhaps have been John of Fornsete, a monk of the abbey of Reading. The
melody is of considerable importance in the history of English music. Sober
musical critics have spoken of ' this amazing production,’ of its ' ingenuity and
beauty,’ of ' the airy and pastoral correspondence between the words and the
music.’ See Grove’s Diet. Music, 2d ed., 4.745-54 (cf. 3. 750-1, 765) ; Oxford
Hist. Music 1.326-38 (Wooldridge); Trans. Phil. Soc. for 1S68, p. 103;
E.E.T.S. 7. 419-28. There are facsimiles in Grove (4. 748), Chappell, Pop.
Music of the Olden Time , and the facsimiles of the Palaeographical Society,
Part 8, PI. 125.

Sing , cuccu, nu 1 / Sing , cuccu !

Sing , cuccu ! Sing, cuccu , nu !

Sumer is icumen in ;

Lhude 2 sing, cuccu !

5 Growe}> sed, and bio we]) 3 med,4

And spring}) fe wde 5 nu.

Sing, cuccu !

Awe 6 blete]) after lomb,

Lhou]) 7 after calve cu ;

10 Bulluc sterte}),8 bucke verte}) 9 ;

Murie 10 sing, cuccu !

Cuccu ! cuccu !

Wei singes })u, cuccu ;

Ne swik 11 }>u naver 12 nu.

1 now

2 loudly

3 blooms

4 mead, meadow

5 wood

6 ewe

1 lows

8 bounds, frisks (cf. Chaucer, K. T. 644 :

' a courser, sterting as the fyr ’)

9 / edit (Lat.)
1° merrily

11 cease

12 never

406

SPRING

407

SPRING

About 131°' From Boddeker, Altenglische Dichtungen des MS. Harl. 225 'j,
pp. 164-5.

Lenten ys come wi)> love to toune,1
Wi|> blosmen and wi)> briddes roune,2
J’at al |>is blisse bryngej) ;
Uayesejes 8 in ]>is 4 dales,

Notes suete of nyhtegales ;

Uch foul song singe]u
The ]>restelcoc him ])rete]> 5 00 6 ;
Away is huere 7 wynter woo,

When woderove 8 springe]).

}">is foules singe]) ferly fele,9
Ant wlyte]) 10 on huere wynter wele,11
]?at al J)e wode rynge}).

pe rose rayle]) 12 hire rode 18 ;

The leves on fe lyhte 14 wode

Waxen al wij) wille.15

]?e mone mande]) 16 hire bleo 17 ;
pe lilie is lossom 18 to seo,
pe fenyl 19 and ])e fille.20
Wowes 21 ])is wilde drakes ;

Miles 22 murge]) 28 huere makes,24
Ase strem J)at strike})25 stille.
Mody 26 mene]),27 so do]> 28 mo 29 ;
Ichot Ycham 80 on of po,

For love J)at likes ille.81

ance, with love

2 song

3 daisies

4 these

5 disputes with himself (?)

6 ever

7 their

3 woodruff

9 wonderfully much

10 look back

1 1 winter’s well-being (ironical ?)

1 spring has made its appear-

12 puts on (as a garment)

13 ruddiness

14 fluttering, trembling (trans-

22 animals (so Matzner)

23 delight

24 mates

25 flows

23 disconsolate ones? (cf.

ferred epithet, belonging

properly to ' leves ’)
16 eagerly
16 sends forth
77 color
18 lovely
49 fennel

20 chervil

21 woo

John 4. 1. 15-16)
2' lament

28 MS. doh

29 others

80 I know I am
84 annoys, vexes

Shakespeare, King

408

LYRICS

pe mone mandef hire lyht ;

So dop )>e semly 1 sonne bryht,

When briddes singef breme.2
Deawes donkep 8 pe dounes ;

Deores 4 w[r]ij> 6 huere derne rounes,6
Domes for te deme 7 ;

Wormes wowep under cloude 8 ;
Wymmen waxep wounder proude,

So wel hit wol hem seme.9
^ef me shal wonte wille of on,10
pis worldes 11 weole 12 Y wole forgon,18
Ant wyht 14 in wode 15 be fleme.16

WHEN THE NIGHTINGALE SINGS

About 1310. From Boddeker, p. 174

When pe nyhtegale singes,
pe wodes waxen grene,

Lef ant gras ant blosme springes
In Averyl, Y wene ;

Ant love is to myn herte gon
Wip one 17 spere so kene,

Nyht ant day my blod hit drynkes,
Myn herte dep to 18 tene.19

Ich have loved al pis jer,
pat Y may love na more ;

Ich have siked 20 moni syk,
Lemmon,21 for j>in ore 22 ;

1 goodly

2 gaily

9 beseem, become
10 if I shall fail to have

8 clod

16 fugitive

17 a

18 w right ( Spec . Lyr. Poetry^

8 wet
4 animals

6 divulge ; cf. Chaucer,

my will of one
U MS. wunne

12 weal

13 forego

14 bold (?)

P-92). me

19 distress, anguish

20 sighed

21 sweetheart

22 favor, grace

Compl. Mars 91 ; T.

and C. 2. 537

6 their secret communings

7 sentiments to express

16 forest

WHEN THE NIGHTINGALE SINGS

409

Me nis love never fe ner,1
Ant )>at me rewef sore ;

Suete lemmon, fench on me,

Ich have loved fe gore.2

Suete lemmon, Y preye fee
Of love one speche ;

Whil Y lyve in world so wyde
Ofer nulle 3 Y seche.

Wif fy love, my suete leof,4
My blis f ou mihtes eche 5 ;

A suete cos 6 of fy mouth
Mihte be my leche.7

Suete lemmon, Y preje fee
Of a love-bene 8 :

<^ef fou me lovest, ase men says,
Lemmon, as I wene,

Ant gef hit fi wille be,

J>ou loke fat hit be sene ;

So muchel Y fenke upon fe
pat al Y waxe grene.9

Bituene Lyncolne ant Lyndeseye,10
Norhamptoun ant Lounde,11

Ne wot I non so fayr a may,

As I go fore ybounde.12

Suete lemmon, Y prege fe
J?ou lovie me a stounde 18 ;

Y wole mone my song
On wham hit ys ylong.14

1 nearer

7 healing

8 love-boon

11 London, about 57 miles from
Northampton

2 long
8 will not
4 dear
6 augment
6 kiss

9 pale

1° Lindsey in Suffolk, about

100 miles from Lincoln

14 to whom it belongs ; MS. on
wham (sat hit ys on ylong

12 as I go in bondage for
18 for a time

4io

LYRICS

ALISON

About 1310. From Boddeker, pp. 147-8. Translation in Ten Brink, Early
Eng. Lit., pp. 308-9.

An hendy hap Jchabbe yhent 1 ;

Idiot 2 from hevene it is me sent ;

From alle wymmen mi love is lent?

And lyht 4 on Alysoun.

5 Bytuene Mersh and Averil,

When spray biginnej> to springe,
pe lutel foul ha|5 hire wyl
On hyre lud6 to synge.

Ich libbe in love-longinge
10 For semlokest 6 of alle J>inge ;

He 7 may me blisse bringe —

Icham in hire baundoun.8

On 9 heu hire her 10 is fayr ynoh,

Hire browe broune, hire ege blake ;

15 Wi}> lossum chere 11 he on me loh 12 ;

Wi}i middel 18 smal and wel ymake.14
Bote 18 he me wolle to hire take,

For te buen 16 hire owen make,17
Longe to lyven Ichulle 18 forsake,

20 And feye 19 fallen adoun.

Nihtes when Y wende 20 and wake,

For]>i21 myn wonges22 waxe}> won ;

Levedi, al for ]>ine sake
Longinge is ylent me on.23

1 I have won a fair fate

2 I know
8 turned

4 has lighted

5 language

8 comeliest, goodliest

7 she

8 power

1-4 : refrain to each stanza.

9 in

10 hair

11 loving mien

12 laughed
18 waist

14 made
45 unless
16 be

17 mate

18 I shall

19 death-stricken

20 wander

24 on this account

22 cheeks

23 appointed to me

CHAUCER, BIRD-SONG

4 1 1

In world nis non so wyter 1 mon
J>at al hire bounte telle con.

Hire swyre 2 is whittore fen fe swon,

And feyrest may 8 in toune.

Icham for wowyng 4 al forwake,5 5

Wery so 6 water in wore.7
Lest eny reve 8 me my make,

Ychabbe yjerned 9 jore.10
Betere is folien whyle sore 11

J?en mournen evermore. io

Geynest 12 under gore,18
Herkne to my roun.14

CHAUCER, BIRD-SONG

Roundel, from the Parliament of Birds (about 1382?)

Now welcom , somer , with thy sonne softe,

That hast this wintres weders 15 overshake ,16

And driven awey the longe nightes blake ! 15

Seynt Valentyn, that art ful hy onlofte,17
Thus singen smale foules for thy sake :

Now welcom , somer , with thy sonne softe ,

That hast this wintres weders overshake.

Wei han they cause for to gladen ofte, 20

Sith ech of hem recovered hath his make ;

Ful blisful may they singen whan they wake :

Now welcom , somer , with thy sonne softe ,

That hast this wintres weders overshake ,

And driven awey the longe nightes blake ! 25

1 wise

2 neck

3 maid

4 yearning

5 overwatched

6 as

7 weir (?)

8 rob

9 yearned

10 long

11 to suffer sorely for a time

12 loveliest

18 in body (lit. under gore, i.e.
under garment)

14 lay, song

15 storms

16 dispelled
it aloft

412

LYRICS

BLOW, NORTHERN WIND

About 1310. From Boddeker, pp. 168-71

Blow , northernc wynd ,

Send 1 dou me my suetyng !

Blow , no rd erne wynd ,

Blon ! blou ! blon !

Ichot 2 a burde 3 in boure bryht,
pat fully semly is on syht,4
Menskful6 maiden of myht,

Feir ant fre 6 to fonde 7 ;

In al J>is wurhliche won,8
A burde of blod and of bon
Never gete Y nuste 9 non
Lussomore 10 in londe.

Wif> lokkes lefliche 11 and longe,

Wi)> frount 12 and face feir to fonde,
Wif> mur[>es monie mote heo monge,13
pat brid 14 so breme 15 in boure ;
Wi|> lossom eye, grete ant gode,

Wi|r browen blysfol under hode 16 ;

He f>at reste him on }>e rode 17
pat leflich lyf honoure !

1 MS. sent

2 I know
8 lady

4 to behold

5 worshipful

6 charming

7 test, make proof of

8 noble dwelling (the world ?)

9 knew

10 more enchanting
n lovely

12 forehead

18 bargain, traffic (?)

14 maiden

15 blithe, gay
46 hood

17 Christ

1—4 : refrain to each stanza.

14. fonde : assonance, not rhyme.

BLOW, NORTHERN WIND

413

Hire lure 1 lumes 2 liht
Ase a launterne a 8 nyht,

Hire bleo 4 blykyej> 6 so bryht ;

So feyr heo is ant fyn 1

A suetly 6 suyre 7 heo ha)? to holde, 5

Wif> armes, shuldre, ase mon wolde,

Ant fyngres feyre forte folde 8 ;

God wolde hue were myn !

Middel heo haji menskful 9 smal ;

Hire loveliche chere 10 as cristal ; 10

pejes,11 legges, fet, ant al,

Ywraht12 is 13 of ]?e beste.

A lussum ledy lasteles 14
pat sweting is, and ever wes ;

A betere burde never nes 15

Yheryed 18 wif> ]>e heste.16

Heo is dereworfie 17 in day,

Graciouse, stout,18 and gay,

Gentil, jolyf 19 so 20 f>e jay,

Worhliche 21 when heo wake)>. 20

Maiden murgest22 of mouf> ;

Bi est, bi west, by nor|? and souf>,
per nis fi[f>]ele 28 ne crouj?24
pat 26 such murfies makef>.

1 face

2 shines
8 at

4 hue

5 gleams
8 sweet

7 neck

8 clasp

9 delightfully

10 countenance

11 thighs

12 fashioned
i* MS. wes

14 faultless, perfect

15 praised

16 highest

17 precious

18 stately

19 lively

20 as

21 noble

22 merriest

28 fiddle ; em. B.

24 crowd, rote
26 MS. sat (em. B.)

4*4

LYRICS

Heo is coral of godnesse,

Heo is rubie of ryhtfulnesse,1
Heo is cristal of clannesse,2
Ant baner of bealte 8 ;

Heo is lilie of largesse,4
Heo is paruenke 5 of prouesse,

Heo is selsecle 6 of suetnesse,

Ant ledy of lealte.7 . . .

For hire love Y carke ant care,

For hire love Y droupne 8 ant dare,9
For hire love my blisse is bare,

Ant al Ich waxe won 10 ;

For hire love in slep Y slake,11
For hire love al nyht Ich wake,

For hire love mournyng Y make
More fen eny mon.

LONGING

About 1310. From Boddeker, pp. 149-50

Wijr longyng Y am lad,12
On molde 13 Y waxe mad,

A maide marref me ;

Y grede,14 Y grone, unglad,

For selden Y am sad 15
]?at semly forte se.

Levedi, ]>ou rewe me !

To rou)te 16 J>ou havest me rad17 ;
Be bote 18 of pat Y bad,19
My lyf is long 20 on ]?e.

1 righteousness

2 purity

3 beauty

4 generosity
6 periwinkle

6 heliotrope

7 loyalty

12 led

13 earth

14 crv

9 falter

10 turn pale
1:1 grow weak

8 droop

cry

I5 satiated
46 sorrow

17 guided, brought

18 recomnense

18 recompense

19 (have) endured

20 depends

LONGING

415

Levedy of alle londe,

Les 1 me out of bonde ;

Broht Ieh am in wo ;

Have resting2 on honde,

And send 3 pou me ]>i sonde 4 5

Sone, er pou me slo 5 —

My reste is wip pe ro.6
pah men to me han onde,7
To love nul y noht wonde,8

Ne lete9 for non of )>o.10 10

Levedi, wip al my miht,

My love is on pe liht,11

To menske12 pe when Y may;
J?ou rew and red 18 me ryht ;

To depe fou havest me diht,14
Y deje longe er my day ;

]?ou leve 15 upon mi lay.

Treupe Ichave pe plyht,

To don pat Ich have hyht 16
Whil mi lif leste may.

Lylie-whyt hue 17 is,

Hire rode 18 so rose on rys 19 ;

pat revep 20 me mi rest.

Wymmon war 21 and wys,

Of prude 22 hue berep pe pris, 25

Burde on of pe best.

J?is wommon wonep by west,

1 loose

2 relief, assuagement

3 MS. sent

4 message

5 slay

6 roe (a type of restlessness ;

cf. Virgil, Ain. 4. 69 ff.)

7 jealousy

8 will I not cease

9 leave off
1° them

U alighted

12 honor

13 guide

14 appointed

15 believe (imp.)

is promised

17 she

18 complexion

19 spray

20 deprives

21 prudent

22 splendor

416

LYRICS

Brihtest under bys 1 ;

Hevene Y tolde 2 al his

pat o 3 nyht were hire gest.4

NOW WOULD I FAIN

About 1445. Our text is on the basis of MS. Camb. Univ. Lib. Ff. 1.6,
'written about the time of Hen. VI,’ with emendations from MS. Bodl. Ashm.
i g 1 , but with spellings conformed to the Cambridge manuscript. The latter is
reproduced from Halliwell’s print in Reliquice Antiques 1.25; Ashmole 191 is
printed in Stainer and Nicholson, Early Bodleian Music 2. 66 (facsimile in
Vol. 1, PI. XXX).

Now wold I fayne some myrthis make
5 All oneli for my ladys sake,

When I hir se 5 ;

But now I am so ferre from hir,

Hit will nat be.

Thogh I be long out of hir 6 sight,

10 I am hir6 man both day and night,

And so will be ;

Wherfor wold God as I love hir
That she lovid me !

When she is mery, then am I glad ;

!5 When she is sory, then 7 am I sad ;

And cause whi —

For he livith nat that lovith hir
So 8 well as I.

She sayth that she hath seen hit wreten
20 That ' seldyn seen is soon foryeten 9 ’ ;

Hit is nat so ;

For, in good feith, save oneli hir,

I love no moo.

1 byssus, fine linen

2 should consider

one

4 guest

6 MS. and hit wold be (Ashm.)
6 MS. your (Ashm.)

7 MS. than

8 MS. as (Ashm.)

9 forgot 425 23

CHAUCER, MERCILESS BEAUTY

417

Wherfor I pray, both night and day,
That she may cast [all] 1 care away,
And leve 2 * in rest ;

And evermore, wherever8 she be,

To love me 4 best ;

And I to hir for to be trew,

And never chaung[e] her for no 5 new
Unto myne end ;

And that I may in hir servise
For evyr amend.6

CHAUCER, MERCILESS BEAUTY

The first of a sequence of three roundels. From MS. Camb. Magd. Coll.
Pepys 2006. See Skeat, Works of Geoffrey Chaucer 1.80-1, 387; Hammond,
Chaucer, pp. 436-7.

Youre yen two 7 woole s/e me sodenly,

I may the beaute of them not sustene ,

So wondeth 8 it thorowout my herte kene.

And but your word wille helen hastily

Mi herds wound[e],9 while that it is grene,
Youre yen two wolle s/e me sodenly,

I may the beaute of them not sustene.

Upon my trouth I sey yow feithfully

That ye ben of my liffe and deth the quene ;

For with my deth the trouth shal be [yjsene.10
Youre yen two wolle s/e me sodenly,

I may the beaute of them not sustene,

So wondeth it thorowout my herte kene.

1 (Ashm.)

2 live

8 MS. whersoever (Ashm.)

4 MS. hir (Ashm.)

5 MS. noon (Ashm.)

6 improve

t MS. two yen (em. S.)
8 wounds

9 em. S.

10 Morris ( Aldine Chaucer),
• isene

418

LYRICS

DEBATE OF THE CLERIC AND THE MAIDEN

About 1310. From Boddeker, pp. 172-3. Cf. below, p. 476

' My dep Y love, my lyf Ich hate,

For a levedy shene 1 ;

Heo is briht 2 so 3 daies liht,
pat is on me wel sene.

A1 Y falewe 4 so dop pe lef,

In somer when hit is grene ;
^ef5 mi poht6 helpep me noht,

To wham shal Y me mene 7 ?

Sorewe and syke 8 and drery mod 9
Byndep me so faste
pat Y wene to walke wod,10
<^ef hit me lengore laste ;

My serewe, my care, al wip a word
He 11 myhte awey caste ;

Whet helpep pe, my suete lemmon,
My lyf pus forte gaste 12 ? ’

' Do wey, pou clerc, )>ou art a fol,
Wi}> ]>e bydde 18 Y noht chyde ;
Shalt pou never lyve pat day
Mi love pat pou shalt byde.14
^ef pou in my boure art take,
Shame pe may bityde ;

}?e is bettere on fote gon
]?en wycked hors to ryde.’

2 MS. brith (em. B.)
8 as

4 wither, fade
s if

1 fair

8 pondering

7 bemoan myself

8 sighing

9 temper, state of mind

10 insane

11 she

12 ruin
18 must

14 experience

DEBATE OF THE CLERIC AND THE MAIDEN 419

' Weylawei 1 whi seist fou so ?

pou rewe on me, |>y man ;
pou art ever in my foht
In londe wher Ich am.

^ef Y deje for fi love,

Hit is fe mykel sham ;
pou lete me lyve, and be fi luef,

And ]>ou my suete lemman.’

' Be stille, fou fol — Y calle f e riht 1 !

Co[n]st fou never blynne2 ?
pou art wayted 8 day and nyht
Wif 4 fader and al my kynne ;

Be fou in mi bour ytake,

Lete fey 5 for no synne 6
Me to holde, and fe to slou 7 ;
pe def so fou maht 8 Wynne ! ’

' Suete lady, fou wend 9 f i mod ;

Sorewe fou wolt me kyfe 10 ;

Ich am al so 11 sory 12 mon,

So Ich was whylen 13 blyfe —

In a wyndou fer 14 we stod,

We custe us 15 fyfty syfe.16
Feir biheste 17 makef mony mon
Al is 18 serewes mythe.19 ’

’ Weylawey ! whi seist fou so ?

Mi serewe fou makest newe ;

Y lovede a clerk al paramours 20 —
Of love he wes ful trewe ;

1 MS. ript (era. B.)

2 stop

3 watched, spied upon

4 by

5 they will fail not

6 because of any sin involved

7 slay

1° show, inflict upon

11 just as

12 unhappy
18 formerly
14 where

8 mayst

9 change

18 his

19 lose

20 passionately

15 kissed each other

16 times

17 promise

420

LYRICS

He nes nout blyfe never a day
Bote 1 he me sone 2 seje 8 ;

Ich lovede him betere fen my lyf —
Whet bote 4 is hit to leje 6 ? ’

' Whil Y wes a clerc in scole,

Wei muchel Y coufe 6 of lore 7 ;

Ych have foled 8 for fy love
Woundes fele 9 sore,

Fer from [horn],10 and eke from men,
Under fe wode hore 11 ;

Suete ledy, fou rewe of me,

Nou may12 Y no more.’

' )?ou semest wel to ben a clerc,

For fou spekest so stille 13 ;

Shalt fou never for mi love
Woundes foie grylle 14 ;

Fader, moder, and al my kun
Ne shal me holde so stille

pat Y nam 15 fyn, and fou art myn,
To don al fi willed

CHAUCER, BALLADE

From the Legend of Good Women, Prologue B, lines 249-69

Hyd, Absolon, thy gilte 16 tresses clere ;

Ester, ley thou thy meknesse al adoun ;

Hyd, Jonathas,17 al thy frendly manere ;
Penalopee, and Marcia 18 Catoun,

Mak of your wyfhod no comparisoun ;

1 unless

2 soon
8 saw

4 good

5 lie

6 knew

7 learning

8 suffered

9 very

10 em. Wright (Spec. Lyr.

Poetry , p. 91)

11 hoary ; MS. gore

12 can

18 gently

14 cruel

15 am not
46 golden

17 Cf. 1 Sam. 19. 2

16 daughter of Cato of Utica

CHAUCER, BALLADE

421

Hyde ye your beautes, Isoude and Eleyne,

My lady cometh, that al this may disteyne.1

Thy faire body, lat hit nat appere,

Lavyne 2 ; and thou, Lucresse of Rome toun,

And Polixene,8 that boghten love so dere,

And Cleopatre, with al thy passioun,

Hyde ye your trouthe of love and your renoun ;

And thou, Tisbe,4 that hast of love swich peyne ;

My lady cometh, that al this may disteyne.

Herro,0 Dido, Laudomia,6 alle yfere,7

And Phyllis,8 hanging for thy Demophoun,

And Canace,9 espyed by thy chere,10
Ysiphile,11 betraysed with 12 Jasoun,

Maketh of your trouthe neyther boost ne soun ;

Nor Ypermistre 13 or Adriane,14 ye tweyne ;

My lady cometh, that al this may disteyne.

MINOT, EDWARD THE THIRD’S FIRST INVASION

OF FRANCE

Laurence Minot (fl. 1333-1352) is a writer of whom virtually nothing is
known except that he produced a series of eleven poems, of which this is
No. 4. Herford has thus characterized him {Diet. Nat. Biog. 38. 47) : ’ While
Minot has no great literary value, and gives almost no new information, he
embodies in a most vivid way the militant England of his day. He has but one
subject, the triumph of England and the English king over French and Scots.
The class-divisions among Englishmen are for him wholly merged in the unity
of England; himself probably of Norman origin, his habitual language is the
strongest and homeliest Saxon. His verse is throughout inspired by savage
triumph in the national successes. He has no elegiac or tender note.’ Cf.
Hall’s edition, pp. xii-xiii ; Ten Brink, Early Eng. Lit ., pp. 322-4.

1 overshadow, eclipse

2 Lavinia ; cf. Virgil, LEn.

6. 764 ff ., etc.

3 daughter of Priam ; cf.

Ovid, Met. 13. 439 If.

4 Thisbe ; cf. Ovid, Met.

4. 55-166

6 Hero; cf. Ovid, Her. 18, 19

6 Laodamia ; cf. Ovid, Her. 13
t together

8 Cf. Ovid, Her. 2

2 Cf. Ovid, Her. 11

1° countenance

11 H ypsipyle, first wifeof Jason;

see her legend in Chau¬
cer, Leg. Good Women
12 betrayed by
18 Hypermnestra ; cf. Ovid,
Her. 14

14 Ariadne ; see Chaucer,
Leg. Good Women

422

LYRICS

Our poem celebrates the fact that, Edward III and Philip of France having
offered each other battle, Edward drew up his troops near La Flamengene in
northern France, on Saturday, Oct. 23, 1339, and waited for Philip to arrive,
who, however, retreated from his position, five or six miles away, leaving
behind him a thousand horses in a marsh (Hall, p. 54; cf. Diet. Nat. Biog.

!7- 55)-

The poem here printed is from Joseph Hall’s edition (Oxford, 1887).

Edward, oure cumly king,

In Braband has his woning,

With mani cumly knight ;

And in pat land, trewly to tell,
Ordanis he still for to dwell,

To 1 time he think to fight.

Now God, )>at es of mightes maste,
Grant him grace of pe Haly Gaste
His heritage to win !

And Mari moder, of mercy fre,

Save oure king and his menje 2
Fro sorow, and schame, and syn !

pus in Braband has he bene —
Whare he bifore was seldom sene —
For to prove 3 paire japes ;

Now no langer wil he spare,

Bot unto Fraunce fast will he fare,
To confort him with grapes.4

Furth5 he ferd into France;

God save him for mischance,

And all his cumpany !
pe nobill due of Braband
With him went into pat land,

Redy to lif or dy.

1 until the

2 retainers

8 make trial of
4 Cf. Cant. 2. 5

6 MS. ff-

MINOT, EDWARD ID’S INVASION OF FRANCE 423

I1 an )>e riche floure de lice 1
Wan fare ful litill prise2 ; —

Fast he8 fled for ferde.4
)?e right aire 5 of fat cuntre

Es cumen, with all his knightes fre, 5

To schac him by fe herd.

Sir Philip fe Valayse,6
Wit his men in fo dayes,

To batale had he thoght :

He bad his men fam purvay7 10

Withowten lenger delay ;

Bot he ne held it noght.

He broght folk ful grete wone,8
Ay sevyn oganis one,

pat ful wele wapnid were ; 1 5

Bot sone, whe[n] he herd ascry 9
pat King Edward was nere farby,
pan durst he noght cum nere.

In fat morni[n]g fell a myst,

And when oure I[n]gliss men it wist, 20

It changed all faire chere ;

Oure king unto God made his bone,10
And God sent him gude confort sone —
pe weder wex ful clere.

Oure king and his men held fe felde 25

Stalwortly, with spere and schelde,

And thoght to win his right,

With lordes, and with knightes kene,

And ofer doghty men bydene,11

pat war ful frek 12 to fight. 30

5 heir (i.e. Edward) 9 report (by spies)

6 de Valois (the king) 10 prayer

7 make ready 11 together

8 plenty 12 eager

1 fleur de Its

2 glory

8 Philip VI of France
4 fear

424 LYRICS

When Sir Philip of France herd tell
pat King Edward in feld walld dwell,

J?an gayned 1 him no gle ;

He traisted of 2 no better bote,8
Bot both on hors and on fote
He hasted him to fie.

It semid he was ferd for strokes
When he did fell his grete okes
Obout his pavilyoune ;

Abated was fan all his pride,

For langer fare durst he noght bide,

His bost was broght all doune.

pe king of Berne 4 had cares colde,
pat was ful 5 hardy and bolde
A stede to amstride.6
[He and] 7 fe king als 8 of Naveme9
War fain for ferd 10 in fe feme 11
paire heviddes 12 for to hide.

And leves 13 wele — it es no lye —
pe felde hat 14 Flemangrye 10
pat King Edward was in,

With princes fat war stif ande bolde,

And dukes fat war doghty tolde,16
In batayle to bigin.

pe princes fat war riche 17 on raw,18
Gert 19 nakers 20 strike, and trumpes blaw,
And made mirth at faire might ;

1 availed

2 expected
8 resource

4 Bohemia

5 MS. fur (em. Ritson)

6 bestride
em. R.

8 also

9 Navarre (father-in-law of

Philip)

10 MS. faire feld (em. Hall,

with fered for ferd)
n were glad, for fear, in the
fern
12 heads

18 believe (imp.)

14 was called
is MS. ff-

16 considered

17 splendid

18 row (line of battle ?), order

19 caused

20 kettle-drums

THE DEATH OF EDWARD III

425

Both alblast 1 and many a bow
War redy railed 2 opon a row,

And ful frek for to fight.

Gladly pai gaf mete and drink,

So pat pai suld pe better swink 8 — 5

J>e wight 4 men pat par ware.

Sir Philip of Fraunce fled for dout,5
And hied 6 him hame with all his rout ;

Coward, God giff him care 7 !

For pare pan had pe lely flowre 8 10

Lorn all halely9 his honowre,

}?at sogat 10 fled for ferd ;

Bot oure King Edward come ful still,

When pat he trowed 11 no harm him till,12

And keped13 him in pe berde.14 15

THE DEATH OF EDWARD III

From a poem (written in 1377) in MS. Brit. Mus. Addit. 22,283. Our ex-
tract is from Wright’s Political Poems and Songs (Rolls Series) i. 216-7, and
comprises lines 17-80.

Sum tyme an Englis schip we had,

Nobel hit was, and heih of tour 15 ;

Thorw al Christendam hit was drad,18
And stif wold stonde in uch a stour,17
And best dorst byde a scharp schour,18 20

And other stormes smale and grete ;

Nou is that schip, that bar the flour,

Selden seije 19 and sone forjete.

1 arblast, crossbow

2 set in order
8 toil

4 stout
6 fear

6 hastened

7 distress

8 See 423 1

9 wholly
1° thus

11 looked for

12 to himself

13 seized

14 beard

18 tower
18 feared
11 every battle

18 tempest

19 seen

426

LYRICS

Into that schip ther longeth a roothur,1
That steered the schip, and governed hit ;

In al this world nis such anothur,

As me thenketh in my wit.

Whil schip and rothur togeder was knit,

Thei dredde nother tempest, druyje,2 nor wete,

Nou be thei bothe in synder flit,3
That selden seije is sone forjete.

Scharpe wawes 4 that schip has sayled,

And sayed 3 alle sees 6 at aventur ;

For wynt7 ne wederes 8 never hit fayled,

Wil9 the roothur miht enduir.10
Thouj the see were roug, or elles dimuuir,11
Gode havenes that schip wold geete.12

Nou is that schip, I am wel suir,13
Selde iseye and sone forjete.

This good schip I may remene 14
To the chivalrye of this londe ;

Sum tyme thei counted nougt a bene 13
Be16 al Fraunce, Ich understonde.

Thei toke and sloug hem with her wonde 17 —
The power of Fraunce, bothe 18 smale and grete ;

And broujt the kyng hider to byde her bonde 19 ;
And nou riht sone hit is forjete.

That schip hadde a ful siker 20 mast,

And a sayl strong and large,

That made the gode schip never agast
To undertake a thinge of charge.21
And to that schip ther longed 22 a barge,

17 rod, sceptre

18 MS. bethe

19 fetters

20 secure

21 moment

22 belonged

1 rudder

2 drought

3 removed asunder

4 waves
6 braved

6 seas

7 wind

8 storms

9 while

10 endure

11 calm

12 attain
1® sure

44 compare
18 bean

16 by ; MS. beo

THE DEATH OF EDWARD III

427

Of al Fraunce gaf 1 nougt a cleete.2

To us hit was a siker targe 8 ;

And now riht clene hit is forgete.

The rother was nouther ok ne elm,

Hit was Edward the Thridde, the noble kniht ;
The prince his sone bar up his helm,

That never scoumfited 4 was in fiht.

The kyng him rod and rouwed 5 ariht,

The prince dredde nouther stok nor streete.6

Nou of hem we lete ful liht7;

That selden is seige is sone forgete.

The swifte barge was Duk Henri,8
That noble kniht and wel assayed ;

And in his leggaunce 9 worthily
He abod mony a bitter brayd 10 ;

^if that his enemys ougt outrayed,11
To chasteis hem wolde he not lete.12

Nou is that lord ful lowe ileyd ;

That selde is seige is sone forgete.

This gode comunes,18 bi the rode,

I likne hem to the schipes mast ;

That with heore catel 14 and with heore goode 15
Mayntened the werre 16 both furst and last.
The wynd that bleug the schip with blast,

Hit was gode pregeres, I sey hit atrete 17 ;

Nou is devoutnes out icast,

And mony gode dedes ben clene forgete. . . .

1 cared

2 cleat

8 shield
4 discomfited
6 rode and rowed
8 street (for rhyme, instead

7 make little account

8 Henry of Lancaster (d. 1361)

9 allegiance
10 stroke

n inflicted any injuries
12 refrain

18 commons

14 property

15 goods

is war
17 distinctly

of ' stok nor ston ’)

428

LYRICS

CHAUCER, COMPLAINT TO HIS EMPTY PURSE

To you, my purse, and to non other wight 1
Compleyne I, for ye be my lady dere ;

I am so sory, now that ye be light,

That certes, but 2 ye make me hevy chere,

5 Me were as leef be leyd upon my bere ;

For whiche unto your mercy thus I crye :

Beth hevy ageyn, or elles mot 3 I dye !

Now voucheth sauf 4 this day, or5 hit be night,

That I of you the blisful soun 6 may here,
io Or see your colour lyk the sonne bright,

That of yelownesse 7 hadde never pere.8
Ye be my lyf, ye be myn hertes stere,9
Quene of comfort and of good companye.

Beth hevy ageyn, or elles mot I dye !

15 Now purs, that be 10 to me my lyves11 light,

And saveour,12 as doun in this worlde here,

Out of this toune help me through your might,

Sin 13 that ye wole nat been my tresorere ;

For I am shave 14 as nye 15 as any frere.

20 But yit I pray unto your curtesye,

Beth hevy ageyn, or elles mot I dye 1

1 creature

2 unless

3 must

4 vouchsafe

5 ere

6 sound

referring to gold

8 equal

9 guide
1° are

n life’s
12 saviour
18 since

14 shaved

15 close

I HAVE A GENTLE COCK

429

I HAVE A GENTLE COCK

About 1450. From MS. Brit. Mus. Sloane 2593, as printed by Wright in
Songs and Carols (Pickering, London, 1836). See 199 25 ff.

I have a gentil cok 1
Crowyt[h] me day 2 ;

He doth 3 me rysyn erly,

My matynis for to say.

I have a gentil cok 1 ;

Comyn he is of gret 4 ;

His comb is of reed Corel,

His tayl5 is of get.6

I have a gentil cok 1 ;

Comyn he is of kynde 7 ;

His comb is of reed corel,8
His tayl is of inde.9

His leggs ben of asour,

So gentil and so smale ;

His spors am of sylver quyt 10
Into the wortewale.11

His eynyn arn of cristal,

Lokyn 12 al in aumbyr ;

And every nyjt he perchit[h] hym
In myn ladyis chaumbyr.

1 MS. cook

2 announces day to me by his

crowing

3 makes

4 great (lineage)

5 MS. tayil

6 jet

7 he is true to his breed

8 MS. scorel

9 indigo

10 white

11 quick {lit. root)

12 enclosed

430

LYRICS

BACHELOR’S SONG

About 1460-1490. From MS. Bodl. Eng. Poet. e. 1, printed by Wright in
Songs and Carols (Percy Soc. 23), p. 27.

A , a , a , o,1

Yet I love wherso I go.

In all this vvarld [n]is a meryar life
Than is a gong man withoutyn a wyfe ;

For he may lyven withougten stryfe,

In every place wherso he go.

In every place he is loved over all
Among maydyns gret and small,

In dauncing, in pypyng, and rennyng at the ball,
In every place wherso he go.

Thei lat lygt 2 be husbondmen,8
Whan thei at the balle ren 4 ;

They cast hyr love to gong[e] men
In every place wherso he go.

Than sey maydens : ' Farwell, Jack 5 !

Thi love is pressyd al in thi pa[c]k 6 ;

Thou beryst thi love behynd thi back,’

In every place wherso he go.

1 MS. a

2 easily

8 married men
4 MS. rene

5 MS. Jacke

6 MS. pake

CHAUCER, TRUTH

431

CHAUCER, TRUTH

Fie fro the pres,1 and dwelle with sothfastnesse 2 ;

Suffise 3 thin owene thing, thogh it be snial ;

For hord 4 hath hate, and clymbyng tykelnesse,5
Prees 6 hath envye, and wele 7 blent 8 overal 9 ;

Savoure 10 no more thanne the byhove 11 shal ; 5

Reule weel thiself, that other folk canst reede,12
And trouthe the shal delyvere — it is no drede.13

Tempest14 the15 noght al croked to redresse,

In trust of hire 16 that turneth as a bal ;

Greet reste stant in litel besynesse,17 10

Bywar therfore to spurne agayn an al 18 ;

Stryve not as doth the crokke 19 with the wal.

Daunte 20 thiself, that dauntest otheres dede,

And trouthe the shal delyvere — it is no drede.

That the is sent, receyve in buxumnesse,21 15

The wrastlyng for22 this worlde axeth23 a fal ;

Her is non horn,24 her nys but wyldernesse.

Forth, pylgrym, forth ! Forth, beste, out of thi stal !

Know thi contre, loke up, thank God of al !

Hold the hye weye, and lat thi gost 23 the lede, 20

And trouthe the shal delyvere — it is no drede.

1 crowd

2 truth

8 subj.

4 hoarding

6 instability

8 the throng of courtiers

7 prosperity

8 blinds

9 everywhere

10 relish, care for

11 suit, fit
42 direct

18 there is no fear

14 torment

15 thyself
18 Fortune

17 fuss, worry (cf. Isa. 30. 15)

18 awl (cf. Acts 9. 5)

19 crock, earthen pot

20 conquer

21 submission

22 to obtain

28 calls for, invites

24 Cf. Heb. u. 9, 10 ; 13. 14

25 spirit

432

LYRICS

UBI SUNT QUI ANTE NOS FUERUNT?

About 1275. From MS. Bodl. Digby 86, as printed by Furnivall, Minor
Poems of the Vernon MS 1, Part II (E.E.T.S. 117), pp. 761 ff. (ten stanzas in all);
cf. the somewhat different version in Boddeker, Altengl. Dicht., pp. 229-30,
which has suggested two or three emendations.

The keynote is struck by Boethius (Book 2, Metre 7):

Ubi nunc fidelis ossa Fabricii manent,

Quid Brutus aut rigidus Cato ?

These lines are expanded in translation by King Alfred : ' Where now are
the bones of the famous and wise goldsmith, Weland?’ etc. One of the most
famous variations on the theme is by Villon (1461), the first of whose stanzas
runs :

Dictes moy oil, n’en quel pays,

Est Flora, la belle Rommaine ;

Archipiada, ne Thai's,

Qui fut sa cousine germaine ;

Echo, parlant quant bruyt on maine
Dessus riviere ou sus estan,

Qui beaulte ot trop plus qu’humaine ?

— Mais oil sont les neiges d’antan !

This is translated by Payne as follows :

Tell me, where, in what land of shade,

Hides fair Flora of Rome f and where
Are Thais and Archiapade,

Cousins german in beauty rare ?

And Echo, more than mortal fair,

That when one calls by river flow,

Or marish, answers out of the air ?

— But what has become of last year’s snow ?

The last four lines are thus translated in Rossetti’s version :

Where is Echo, beheld of no man,

Only heard on river and mere,

She whose beauty was more than human ?

— But where are the snows of yester-year ?

See also below, p. 434 ; Wells, Manual, p. 824 (30).

Were befi fiey [fiat] 1 biforen us weren,

Houndes ladden and havekes beren,

And hadden feld and wode ?

1 Cf. B.

THOMAS OF HALES, LOVE-SONG

433

pe riche levedies in hoere hour,
pat wereden gold in hoere tressour,1
Wiji hoere brigtte rode 2 ?

[pey] 3 eten and drounken, and rnaden hem glad ;
Hoere lif was al wip gamen ilad 4 * ;

Men kneleden 0 hem biforen ;
pey beren hem wel swipe heye 6 ;

And, in a twin cling of an eye,

Hoere soules weren forloren.

Were is pat lawing 7 and that song,
pat trayling and that proude gong,8
po havekes and po houndes ?

Al pat joye is went away,

pat wele is comen to ' Weylaway ! ’ —

To manie harde stoundes.9

Hoere paradis pey 10 nomen 11 here,

And nou pey lien in helle ifere 12 ;

pe fuir hit brennes hevere.

Long is ay,13 and long is o,14
Long is wy,15 and long is wo 16 ;
pennes ne comep pey nevere.

THOMAS OF HALES, LOVE-SONG

Thomas of Hales was a Franciscan friar, who wrote this 'luve-ron’ of 210 lines
at the request of a young nun, in the reign of Henry III (probably before
1240, according to Camb. Hist. Eng. Lit. 1. 258; soon after 1244, according
to Morris, Old Eng. Misc., p. xi ; about 1272, N. E. D.). The extract below is
from the MS. of Jesus College, Oxford (lines 65-120), as reproduced in Old
English Aliscellany (E.E.T.S. 49), pp. 93-9. A translation of thirteen stanzas,

1 braids, tresses

2 complexion

8 Cf. B.

4 led

6 MS. keneleden

6 very exceedingly high

7 laughing

8 gait, carriage

9 experiences

10 MS. by

11 took

12 side by side

18 ever

14 always ; MS. ho

15 alas

16 woe

434

LYRICS

including the first five printed here, may be found in Ten Brink, Early Eng.
Lit., pp. 208-11. He says: 'We have here an art-poetry not quite developed
in form, of the simplest, noblest mould, a contemplative lyric, which, springing
from warm feeling, moves calmly and quietly, without subtlety of reflection or
trifling with forms, in euphonious, richly figurative speech.’ Another version is
in Miss Weston’s Chief Middle English Poets, pp. 343-5.

Hwer is Paris and Heleyne,

J?at weren so bryht and feyre on bleo 1 ?
Amadas and Ideyne,2

Tristram, Yseude, and alle J>eo3?

5 Ector, wij) his scharpe meyne,4

And Cesar, riche of wor[l]des feo 5 ?
Heo beoj) iglyden ut of j)e reyne,

So 6 pe schef 7 is of pe cleo.8

Hit is of heom al so 9 hit nere.

10 Of heom me have)) 10 wunder itold —

Nere hit reu)>e 11 for to here 12 —

Hw hi were wi)> pyne 13 aquold,14
And hwat hi ])oleden 15 alyve 16 here ;

Al is heore hot itumd to cold.

15 }?us is ))es world of false fere17 ;

Fol he is ])e on hire is bold.

J?eyh he were so riche mon
As Henry,18 ure [noble] kyng,

1 hue

2 MS. Dideyne
8 those

4 power

5 wealth

6 as

t sheaf

8 brae, steep hillside

9 as if

10 one has, they have

11 were it not pity

12 MS. heren

18 pain
14 destroyed
45 endured

16 in life

17 appearance, show

18 Henry III (1216-1272)

3. Amadas: see Schofield, pp. 322, 479. — Ideyne: there is a thirteenth-
century OF. romance of Breton origin, Amadas et Idoine (ed. Hippeau, Paris,
1863), and allusion is made to the story by Gower (Conf. Am. 6.879) and the
Cursor Mundi (v. 20), etc. ; cf. Gaston Paris, Litt. Fr. au Moyen Age, § 66, and
English Miscellany presented to Dr. Furnivall, pp. 386 ff. (where there are other
references); Schofield, pp. 117, 375.

THOMAS OF HALES, LOVE-SONG

435

And al so veyr as Absalon,

pat nevede on eorpe non evenyng,1

Al were sone his prute 2 * agon,8
Hit nere on ende wr)> on heryng.4

Mayde, if )>u wilnest 5 after leofmon,6 5

Ich teche )>e enne 7 treowe King.

A ! swete, if pu ikn[e]owe 8

pe gode pewes 9 of pisse Childe !

He is feyr, and bryht on heowe,

Of glede chere,10 of mode mylde, io

Of lufsum lost,11 of truste treowe,

Freo of heorte, of wisdom wilde12;

Ne purfte13 pe never re[o]we,

Myhtestu do 14 )>e in his [hjylde.15

He is ricchest Mon of londe,

So wide so mon speketh wip mup ;

Alle heo beop to 16 his honde,

Est and west, norp and sup.

Henri, King of Engelonde,

Of hym he halt,17 and to hym buhp.18

Mayde, to pe he send his sonde,19
And wilnep for to beo pe cup.

Ne byt 20 he wip pe lond ne leode,21
Vouh,22 ne gray,23 ne rencyan.24

Navep he perto none neode ; 25

He is riche and weli 25 man.

1 peer ; cf. 420 21

2 pride

8 vanished

4 herring

5 longest

6 lover

8 knew

9 qualities

10 countenance

11 delight

12 (?)

18 thou wouldst need ; MS. hurhte

14 put

15 grace

16 in

17 holds

18 bows

19 message ; MS. schonde

20 asks

21 people

22 particolored fur
28 gray fur

24 a kind of cloth

25 wealthy

436

LYRICS

If }>u him woldest luve beode,1
And bycumen his leovemon,

He brouhte 2 \>e to suche wede,3
pat 4 navep king ne kayser non.

5 Hwat 5 spekestu of eny bolde 6

pat wrouhte }>e wise Salomon ?

Of jaspe, of saphir, of merede 7 golde,
And of mony onoper ston ?

Hit is feyrure of feole volde 8
io More ]>an Ich eu telle con,

pis bold, mayde, )>e is bihote,9
If pat }>u bist his leovemon.

EARTH UPON EARTH

Of this poem there are three versions (A, B, C). A is represented by two
poems, B by twenty, and C by one — not to mention a rather anomalous
example, difficult to classify. The earliest texts date from about 1310; that
printed here is from 1430-1450 (MS. Lambeth 853), and is No. 10 of B. All
the known texts have been printed by Miss Hilda Murray, with the necessary
apparatus, in Erthe upon Erthe (E.E.T.S. 1 4 1 ) . The Stratford-on-Avon version
was printed by Longfellow in Outre-Mer.

The theme is : ' Dust thou art, and unto dust thou shalt return ’ (Gen. 3. 19).

Er|>e out of er)>e is wondirly wroujt,

Erj>e of er|)e ha]) gete 10 a dignyte of noujt,

15 Erf>e upon erj)e ha}) sett al his J’ougt,

How })at er])e upon er}>e may be hij 11 broujt.

Er}>e upon erfe wold he be a king ;

But how erpe schal to er])e ])enki}) he noting ;

Whanne pat er|>e biddi]> er})e hise rentis horn bring,

20 pan schal erpe out of er}>e have a piteuous parting.

1 offer

2 would bring
8 apparel

4 as

6 why

6 building

7 purified

8 many times

9 promised
1° got
11 high

EARTH UPON EARTH

437

Erpe upon erpe Wynne]’ eastels and touris ;
pan sei]’ erpe to er]’e : ' Now is pis al houris.’
Whanne erpe upon erpe hap biggid 1 up hise boures,
panne schal erj>e upon er]’e suffir scharpe schouris.2

Erpe gooth upon er]>e as molde upon molde,

So gooth er]>e upon er]>e al gliteringe in golde,

Like as er]’e unto er]’e nevere go scholde,8
And jit schal erpe unto erthe ra]’er 4 ]’an he wolde.

O |’ou wrecchid er]’e, )’at on erpe traveilist 8 nyjt and day,

To florische 6 ]’e er]’e, to peynte ]>e erpe with wantowne aray,

<^it schal )>ou, erj>e, for al )>i er]>e, make ]>ou it nevere so queynte
and gay,

Out of J>is er]’e into pe erpe, ]’ere to clinge 7 as a clot 8 of clay.

O wrecchid man, whi art ]>ou proud, fat art of ]>e erpe makid ?
Hider broujttist pou no schroud,9 but poore come pou and nakid.
Whanne ]’i soule is went 10 out, and pi bodi in erpe rakid,
pan pi bodi pat was rank 11 and undevout, of alle men is bihatid.

Out of pis erpe cam to pis erpe pis wrecchid garnement 12 ;

To hide pis erpe, to happe13 pis erpe, to him was clopinge lente ;
Now goop erpe upon erpe, ruli 14 raggid and rent,
perfore schal erpe undir pe erpe have hidiose turment.

Whi pat erpe to myche lovep erpe wondir me pink,

Or whi pat erpe for superflue erpe to sore sweete 15 wole or swynk 16 ;
Ffor whanne pat erpe upon erpe is broujt withinne pe brink,17
pan schal erpe of pe erpe have a rewful stynk.18

1 built

2 trials

8 MS. schulde

4 sooner

5 laborest

6 adorn

7 dry, shrivel up

8 clod

9 garment

10 gone
n proud

12 garment (of flesh)

is cover
34 ruefully
18 sweat

16 toil

17 of the grave

18 MS. swynk

433

LYRICS

Lo ! erpe upon erpe considere pou may,

How erpe comep into erpe nakid alway,

Whi schulde erpe upon erpe go now so stoute or gay,

Whanne erpe schal passe out of erpe in so poore aray ?

5 Wolde God perfore pis erpe, while pat he is upon this erpe,

Upon pis wolde hertili pinke,

And how pe erpe out of pe erpe schal have his agenrisyng,1
And pis erpe for pis erpe schal geelde 2 3 streite 8 rekenyng ;

Schulde nevere pan pis erpe for pis erpe mysplese hevene King.

io ]?erfore, pou erpe upon erpe, pat so wickidli hast wrougt,

While pat pou, erpe, art upon erpe, turne agen pi pougt,

And praie to pat God upon erpe pat al pe erpe hap wrougt,
pat pou, erpe upon erpe, to blis may be brougt.

O pou Lord pat madist pis erpe for pis erpe, and suffridist heere
15 peynes ille,

Lete nevere pis erpe, for pis erpe, myscheve 4 ne spille,5
But pat pis erpe on pis erpe be evere worchinge pi wille,

So pat pis erpe from pis erpe may stie 6 up to pin hig hille. Amen.

FILIUS REGIS MORTUUS EST

About 1430. From MS. Lambeth 853, printed by Furnivall in Political , Re¬
ligious , and Love Poems (reprint of E.E.T.S. 15), p. 233. Thirteen stanzas in all.

As resoun rewlid my rechelees 7 mynde,

Bi wielde 8 waies as Y hadde went,

A solempne citee me fortuned to fynde ;

To turne perto was myne entent.

A maiden Y mette, a modir hynde,9

Sobbinge and sigynge, sche was neer schent 10 ;

1 resurrection ; MS. -risynge

2 yield

3 strict

4 come to grief

5 perish
e ascend

7 reckless; MS. riche-

8 wild

9 gracious
10 prostrated

QUIA AMORE LANGUEO

439

Sche wepte, sche wailid, so sore sche pined ;

Hir heer, hir face, sche tuggid and rent :

Sche tuggid, sche taar with greet turment,

Sche racide 1 hir skyn, bothe body and brest ;
Sche seide ]>eise wordis evere as sche went :
Filius Regis mortuus est.

’ The Kingis Sone,’ sche seide, ' is deed,

J>e joie, ]ie substaunce of my liif 2 ;
p>e modir to se hir Sone so blede,

It kitti]) 8 myn herte as with a knyf.

My Sone pat Y was woont to fede,

To lulle, to lappe, with songis riif4 —

Out of his herte his blood to schede
Maki]> me, his modir, in myche striif.3
I am hope maiden, modir, and wiif,

Sones 6 have Y no mo to souke my brest ;

I may make sorewe without reliif,

For Filius Regis mortuus est.’

QUIA AMORE LANGUEO

About 1450-1500. From MS. Camb. Univ. Lib. Hh. 4. 12, printed by Fur-
nivall, op. cit., p. 181. Sixteen stanzas in all. Translation in Weston, op. cit.,
PP- 349-50-

In the vaile of restles mynd,

I sowght in mownteyn and in mede,
Trustyng a treu lofe for to fynd.

Upon an hyll than toke I hede ;

A voise I herd — and nere 7 I yede 8 —
In gret dolour complaynyng tho :

' See, dere soule, my sydes blede,

Quia amove latigueo.’

1 tore

2 MS. liife

4 rife

5 MS. striife

7 nearer

8 approached

44©

LYRICS

Upon thys mownt I fand a tree;

Undir thys tree a man sittyng ;

From hede to fote wowndyd was he,

Hys hert-blode I saw bledyng ;

5 A semely man to be a kyng,

A graciose face to loke unto.

I askyd hym how he had paynyng,1
He said : ' Quia amore la7igueo.

I am treu love that fals was never :
io My sistur, mannys soule, I loved hyr thus;

Bycause I wold on no wyse dissevere,

I left my kyngdome gloriouse ;

I purveyd 2 hyr a place full preciouse ;

She flytt,8 I folowyd ; I luffed her soo
iS That I suffred thes paynes piteuouse,

Quia amore langueo.’

HE BARE HIM UP

About 1 500 (or earlier). From MS. Oxford Balliol 354, as printed by Fliigel
in Anglia 26. 175-6 (slightly different in his Nettoiglisches Lesebuch 1. 142), with
/ for MS. y. The knight is of course Jesus Christ.

Lully , lulley, lully? lulley ,
pe fawcon hath born my make 5 away.

He bare hym up, he bare hym down,

20 He bare hym into an orchard browne.

In )>at orchard ]>ere was an halle
f>at was hangid with purpill and pall.

And in fat hall fere was a bede 6 ;

Hit was hangid with gold so rede.

1 distress 3 fled 5 mate

- provided 4 Mg, lulley (em. F.) 6 bed

THE PEARL

441

And yn )>at bed ]>ere lythe a knyght.

His wowndis bledyng day and nyght.

By pat bedeside kneleth a may,1
And she wepeth both nyght and day.

And by ]>at beddeside ]>ere stondith a ston,
' Corpus Christi ’ wretyn j>eron.

THE PEARL

The Pearl is an elegiac poem with allegorical elements, embodying a vision
by the author of a maiden closely related to him, who had died at an early
age. Disregarding stanza 72 (for which see Osgood’s edition, p. xlvi, note 1),
the poem falls into 20 sections, each consisting of 5 twelve-line stanzas, con¬
catenated by the recurrence of the last word of a stanza in the first line follow¬
ing. The rhyme-scheme is ababababbcbc. The date is about 1370; the author
wrote also Gawain and the Green Knight (see above, p. 53), besides two other
poems, Purity and Patience. There is only a single manuscript, Brit. Mus.
Cott. Nero A. X + 4 (facsimile in Yale University Library). The best edition
is by Osgood (Belles Lettres Series, 1906) ; to this the student is referred for
further information. There are translations by Gollancz (1891), Mitchell (1906),
Coulton (1906), Osgood (1907), Jewett (1908), and Weston (in Romance, Vision,
and Satire, 1912) ; of these the best is Osgood’s, in prose.

Tennyson thus apostrophized the poem in Gollancz’s edition:

We lost you — for how long a time ! —

True pearl of our poetic prime ;

We found you, and you gleam reset
In Britain’s lyric coronet.

With reference to the emphasis upon the jeweler’s art, we know that from
the death of St. Louis (1270) this had surpassed all other industrial arts in
France (Labarte, Inventaire du Mobilier de Charles V, p. 1 ) -

Our text is taken from Osgood’s edition (by the kind permission of the
publishers, Messrs. D. C. Heath & Co.), with the substitution, when etymo¬
logically indicated, of 2 for the character 5, which usually denotes palatal^, of
and for iS°, and with the normalization of u and v ; the emendations are those
of Osgood’s text. Our extracts comprise lines 37_3°°' 3S5— 420-

To pat spot ]>at I in speche expoun '2
I entred, in pat erber 8 grene,

1 maid

2 tell of

3 lawn

442

LYRICS

In Augoste, in a hyj 1 seysoun,

Quen corne is corven 2 wyth crokez 3 kene.

On huyle 4 per perle hit trendeled 6 doun
Schadowed 6 pis wortez 7 ful schyre 8 and schene 9 —
5 Gilofre,10 gyngure,11 and gromylyoun,12

And pyonys 13 powdered 14 ay bytwene.

^yif hit watz semly on to sene,

A fayr reflayr 16 get fro hit flot,16
Per wonys 17 pat worpyly,18 I wot and wene,19
io My precious perle wythouten spot.

Bifore pat spot my honde I spenn[e]d,20
For care ful colde pat to me cagt 21 ;

A de[r]vely dele 22 in my hert denned,23
pag resoun sette myselven sajt.24
1 5 I playned 25 my perle pat per watz spenned 26

Wyth fyrte skyllez 27 pat faste fagt 28 ;
pa 5 kynde 29 of Kryst me comfort kenned,80
My wreched wylle in wo ay wragte.81
I felle upon pat floury flajt,82
20 Suche odour to my hernez33 schot ;

I slode 84 upon a slepyng-slagte 36 —

On pat prec[i]os perle wythouten spot.

Fro spot86 my spyryt per sprang in space,

My body on balke 4 per bod 87 in sweven 38 ;

1 high (in a liturgical sense ;

13 peonies

26 enclosed

probably the Assumption

14 scattered thickly

27 frightened reasonings

of the Virgin, August 15)

48 fragrance

28 contended

2 mowed

46 flowed

29 the nature

8 sickles

47 dwells

8n imparted

4 mound

48 worshipful one

84 wrought

6 rolled

49 suppose

82 turf

6 shaded

20 clasped

88 brain

7 plants

21 seized on me

84 sank

8 bright

22 sudden sorrow

38 visitation of sleep

8 fair

28 made tumult

36 forth

1° gillyflower

24 though reason reconciled

37 remained

11 ginger

38 dream

42 gromwell

25 bemoaned

THE PEARL

443

My goste is gon in Godez grace,

In aventure ]>er 1 mervaylez 2 meven.8
I ne wyste in ]>is vvorlde quere pat hit wace,4
Bot I knew me keste 5 per klyfez 6 eleven 7 ;

Towarde a foreste I here 8 pe face,

Where rych rokkez wer to dyscreven.9
pe lyjt of hem mygt no mon leven,10
pe glemande 11 glory pat of hem glent 12 ;

For wern never webbez pat wyjez weven 13
Of half so dere adub[be]mente.14

Dubbed 10 wern alle po downez sydez 16
Wyth crystal klyffez so cler of kynde.17
Holte-wodez 18 bryjt aboute hem bydez 19
Of bollez 20 as blwe 21 as ble of ynde 22 ;

As bornyst sylver pe lef onslydez,28

pat pike con try lie 24 on uch a tynde 25

Quen 26 glem of glodez 27 agaynz hem glydez ;

Wyth schymeryng schene 28 ful schrylle 29 pay schynde.
pe gravayl pat on grounde con grynde 30
Wern precious perlez of Oryente ;
pe sunnebemez bot bio and blynde 31
In respecte of 32 pat adubbement.

The adubbemente of po downez dere
Garten 33 my goste 34 al greffe forgete ;

So frech flavorez 35 of frytez 36 were
As fode hit con me fayre refete.87

S cliffs

7 stand fast

8 turn

9 to be descried
1° believe

u resplendent

12 gleamed

13 people weave

1 where

2 marvels

3 move

4 was

6 myself to be set down

14 splendid array
is arrayed
is hillsides
17 by nature
48 woods

19 are

20 trunks of trees

21 blue

27 flashes of light (?)

28 beautiful shimmering

29 intensely
3° did crunch

31 are but dark and dim

32 compared to

33 caused
84 soul

35 fresh fragrances

86 fruits

87 satisfy, refresh

22 indigo color

28 unfolds

24 did quiver

25 on each branch

26 when

LYRICS

444

Fowlez 1 )>er flowen 2 in fryth 3 in fere,4
Of flaumbande hwez,5 bope smale and grete ;
Bot sytole-stryng 6 and gyternere 7
Her reken 8 myrpe mogt not retrete 9 ;

For, quen pose bryddez her wyngez bete,
pay songen wyth a swete asent 10 ;

So grac[i]os gle 11 coupe no mon gete
As here and se her adubbement.12

So al watz dubbet on dere asyse 13 ;
pat fryth per 14 fortwne forth me ferez 16 ;
pe derpe 16 perof for to devyse
Nis no wyg 17 worpe 18 pat tonge berez.

I welke 19 ay forth in wely 20 wyse ;

No bonk 21 so byg 22 pat did me derez.23
pe fyrre 24 in pe fryth, pe fei[r]er con ryse
pe playn, pe plonttez,23 pe spyse,26 pe perez,27
And rawez 28 and randez 29 and rych reverez 30
As fyldor 81 fyn her bonkes brent.32
I wan 83 to a water by schore pat scherez 34 ;
Lorde, dere watz hit 35 adubbement !

The dubbemente of po derworth 36 depe 87
Wern bonkez 38 bene 39 of beryl bryjt ;
Swangeande 40 swete pe water con swepe,

Wyth a rownande 41 rourde 42 raykande 43 aryjt ;

1 birds

2 flew

3 woodland

4 together

6 flaming colors

6 citole-string

7 player on the cithern

8 lively

9 reproduce
1° harmony

11 joy

12 beauty
73 manner
n where

15 transports

16 glory
1" person
48 worthy

19 walk

20 happy

21 hill

22 difficult

28 as to cause me annoyances

24 further

25 plants

26 spicy shrubs

27 pear-trees

28 hedges

29 borders of streams

30 rivers

34 thread of gold (Fr.yf /
if or)

32 steep

33 made my way

34 runs swiftly by

86 its
36 rare

87 deep stream

38 banks

39 pleasing

40 rushingly (?)

41 murmuring

42 voice

48 moving forward

THE PEARL

445

In pe founce 1 per stonden stonez stepe,2
As glente 3 jmrj glas ]>at glowed and glyjt 4
A[s] stremande sternez,5 quen strode 6 men slepe,

Staren ' in welkyn in wynter nyjt ;

For uche a pobbel8 in pole9 per pyjt 10 5

Watz emerad, saffer,11 oper gemme gente,12
pat alle pe loge 13 lemed of 14 lyjt,

So dere watz hit adubbement.

The dubbement dere of doun 15 and dalez,

Of wod and water and wlonk 16 playnez, 10

Bylde 17 in me blys, abated my balez,18
Forbidden 19 my stresse,20 dystryed 21 my paynez.

Doun after a strem pat dryjly 22 halez 28
I bowed in blys. Bredful 24 my braynez ;
pe fyrre I folded 25 pose floty 26 valez, 1 5

pe more strenghpe of joye myn herte straynez.

As fortune fares per as ho fraynez,27

Wheper solace ho sende oper ellez sore,28

pe wyj to wham her wylle ho waynez 29

Hyttez80 to have ay more and more. 20

More of weel 31 watz in pat wyse
pen I cowpe telle paj I tom 82 hade ;

For urpely 83 herte mygt not suffyse
To pe tenpe dole 34 of po gladnez glade.85

1 bottom of the stream

2 glittering

3 gleam

4 shimmered

6 stars streaming with light
6 secure (?)

1 glitter

8 pebble

9 pool

10 set

n sapphire
I2 precious

is hill
is fair

U caused to spring up
is sorrows

19 did away with

20 anguish

21 destroyed

22 mightily

23 flows

24 brimful

13 water

14 gleamed with

85 happy

82 leisure

33 earthly

34 part

28 sorrow

29 bestows

30 strives
81 iov

26 watery

21 where she desires

25 followed

joy

LYRICS

446

Forfy 1 I fogt fat paradyse

Watz fer over gayn 2 fo bonkez brade 3 ;

I hoped 4 fe water were a devyse 5
Bytwene myrf ez 6 by merez 7 made ;

5 Bygonde fe broke,8 by slente 9 ofer slade,10

I hope fat mote 11 merked 12 wore.

Bot fe water watz depe, I dorst not wade,
And ever me longed a[y] more and more.

More and more, and get wel mare,

10 Me lyste 13 to se fe broke bygonde ;

For if hit watz fayr fer I con fare,

Wel loveloker 14 watz fe fyrre londe.

Abowte me con I stote 16 and stare,

To fynde a forfe16 faste con I fonde17;

15 Bot wofez 18 mo iwysse fer ware,

pe fyrre I stalked by fe stronde ;

And ever me f ogt I schulde not wonde 19
For wo fer welez so Wynne 20 wore.

]?enne nwe note 21 me com on honde,

20 J>at meved 22 my mynde ay more and more.

More mervayle con my dom 23 adaunt 24 ;

I seg 25 bygonde fat myry 26 mere
A crystal clyffe ful relusaunt 27 ;

Mony ryal 28 ray con fro hit rere.29
25 At fe fote ferof fer sete a f aunt, 30

A mayden of menske 31 ful debonere ;

1 wherefore

2 over against ; MS. ofer

gayn
s broad

4 supposed

6 division

6 pleasure-gardens

7 boundary-lines

8 stream

9 slope

10 dale

11 city (referring to the New

Jerusalem)

12 placed

18 I yearned
14 lovelier
16 stumble
18 ford
47 seek

18 dangers

19 hesitate

20 fair

21 a new matter

22 stirred

23 mind

24 overcome

25 saw

26 lovely

27 reflecting much light

28 royal

29 leap

80 young person (OF. enfaunt)
31 decorous bearing

THE PEARL

447

Blysnande 1 whyt watz hyr bleaunt2 —

I knew hyr wel, I hade sen hyr ere 8 - -

As glysnande 4 5 golde fat man con schere,6

So schon |>at schene 6 anunder schore.7

On lenghe 8 I loked to hyr ]>ere, 5

pe lenger I knew hyr more and more.

The moi'e I frayste9 hyr fayre face,

Her fygure fyn, quen I had fonte,10

Suche gladande 11 glory con to me glace 12

As lyttel byfore ferto watz wonte. io

To calle hyr lyste 18 con me enchace,14

Bot baysment 15 gef myn hert a brunt 16 ;

I se£ hyr in so strange a place,

Such a burre 17 myjt make myn herte blunt.18

penne verez 19 ho up her fayre frount,20 15

Hyr vysayge whyt as playn yvore,

pat Stonge myn hert ful stray21 atount,22

And ever fe lenger, fe more and more.

More fen me lyste my drede aros ;

I stod ful stylle and dorste not calle, 20

Wyth y^en open and mouth ful clos ;

I stod as hende 28 as hawk in halle.

I hope 24 ]>at gostly 25 watz fat porpose 26 ;

I dred onende 27 quat schulde byfalle —

Lest ho me eschaped fat I fer chos,28 25

Er I at steven 29 hir mogt stalle.80

1 gleaming

2 tunic (OF. bliaut)

3 erstwhile

4 glittering

5 cut

6 fair one

7 at the foot of the bank

8 at a distance

9 scanned

10 perceived it

11 causing me to rejoice
42 glide
13 the desire
44 pursue
15 confusion
46 blow

17 shock

18 stunned

19 lifts

20 brow

21 out of the right course

22 confounded

23 quiet

24 suppose

25 spectral

26 intent, thing intended

27 concerning
23 discerned

29 with my voice

30 stop

448 LYRICS

pat gracios gay 1 wythouten galle,

So smope, so smal, so seme 2 slyjt,3
Rysez up in hir araye ryalle,

A prec[i]os pyece 4 in perlez pyjt.5

5 Perlez pyjte of ryal prys 6

pere mojt mon by grace haf sene,

Quen pat frech 7 as flor-de-lys
Doun pe bonke con boje 8 bydene.9
A1 blysnande whyt watz hir bleaunt of biys,10
io Upon11 at sydez, and bounden bene 12

Wyth pe myryeste margarys,13 at my devyse,14
pat ever I sej jet with myn yjen ;

Wyth lappez 15 large, I wot and I wene,
Dubbed with double perle and dyjte,16
1 5 Her cortel 17 of self sute 18 schene,

Wyth precios perlez al umbepyjte.19

A pyjt 20 coroune 21 jet 22 wer 23 pat gyrle,

Of marjorys 13 and non oper ston,

Hije pynakled of cler quyt perle,

20 Wyth flurted 24 flowrez perfet 23 upon.

To hed 26 hade ho non oper herle 27 ;

Her here-leke 28 al hyr umbegon.29

Her semblaunt 30 sade for doc oper erle,31

Her ble 82 more blajt 33 pen whallez bon 34 ;

1 radiant one

2 modest

3 slight

4 creature, thing
6 arrayed

6 excellence

7 sweet one

8 did betake herself

9 forthwith

10 fine linen; MS.hirbeauniys(?)

(em. Osgood)

U open
12 pleasingly

13 pearls
11 in my opinion
15 loose folds
1® adorned
1” kirtle

ig of the very same fashion
1® bordered

20 set with jewels

21 crown

22 besides
28 wore

24 figured

25 perfectly wrought

26 on her head
2” fillet ; MS. werle

28 locks of hair (?) ; MS.

lere leke

29 encircled

30 countenance

31 demure enough to suit

duke or earl

32 complexion

33 white (bleached)

34 Ivory is called whale’s

bone in ME.

THE PEARL

449

As schome golde schyr 1 her fax 2 ]>enne schon,
On schylderez3 ]>at leghe4 unlapped5 6 lyjte.3
Her depe colour jet wonted 7 non
Of precios perle in porfyl 8 pyjte.

Pyjt and poyned 9 watz uche a hemme,

At honde, at sydez, at overture,10
Wyth whyte perle and non ojter gemme,

And bornyste quyte watz hyr vesture.

Bot a wonder perle wythouten wemme 11
In myddez hyr breste watz sette so sure.

A mannez dom 12 mojt dryjly 13 demme 14
Er mynde mojt malte in hit mesure 15 ;

I hope no tong mojt endure 16
No saverly 17 saghe 18 say of ]>at sygt,

So watz hit clene and cler and pure,
pat precios perle )>er hit watz pyjt.

Pyjt in perle, )>at precios py[ec]e
On wyjter half 19 water com doun ]>e schore ;

No gladder gome 20 hefen 21 into Grece
pen I quen ho on brymme wore 22 ;

Ho watz me nerre 28 }>en aunte or nece ;

My joy forpy watz much j?e more.

Ho p[ro]fered me speche, pat special spece,24
Enclynande lowe in wommon lore,25
Cagte of 26 her coroun of grete tresore,

And haylsed 27 me wyth a lote lyjte.28

1 bright

2 hair

8 shoulders

11 blemish

12 judgment
18 seriously

14 be baffled

15 enter into its measure of

21 hence

22 was on the brink

28 closer ( perhaps dearer)

24 rare being; MS. spyce

25 according to women’s eti-

4 lay

5 unbound

6 lightly

7 lacked

8 embroidered border

9 pierced (with open-work

excellence

46 be equal to the task

17 sweet

18 recital

19 on the opposite side of

20 man

quette

2G caught off

27 greeted

28 manner blithe

design)
10 opening

LYRICS

450

Wei watz me fat ever I watz bore,

To sware 1 fat swete in perlez pygte 1

' O perle,’ quod I, ' in perlez pygt,

Art fou my perle fat I haf playned,2
Regretted 3 by myn one,4 on nygte ?

Much longeyng haf I for fe layned,5
Syf en into gresse 6 fou me aglyjte 7 ;

Pensyf, payred,8 I am forpayned,9
And fou in a lyf of lykyng 10 lyjte,11
In paradys erde,12 of stryf unstrayned.13
What wyrde 14 hatz hyder my juel 15 wayned,16
And don me in del 17 and gret daunger ?

Fro 18 we in twynne 19 wern towen 20 and twayned,21
I haf ben a joylez juelere.’

That juel fenne in gemmez gente22
Vered 23 up her vyse 24 wyth yjen graye,

Set on hyr coroun of perle orient,

And soberly after fenne 25 con ho say :

' Sir, je haf your tale mysetente,26
To say your perle is al awaye,
pat is in cofer so comly clente,27
As in f is gardyn gracios 28 gaye,

Hereinne to lenge 29 for ever and play,
per mys nee mornyng 30 com never nere 31 ;

Her were a forser 32 for fe, in faye,38
If fou were a gentyl jueler.

450

1 answer

2 lamented

8 grieved for

4 by myself

5 kept silent about

6 the sod (grass)

7 slipped away

8 worn

9 overcome with pain

10 pleasure

11 arrived

12 the country of paradise
18 unmolested
14 fate

15 jewel

46 brought ; MS. vayned

17 sorrow ; MS. J>ys del

18 since

19 in twain

20 drawn

21 torn apart

22 precious

28 turned

24 face

25 straightway

26 heeded ill

27 enclosed so beautifully

28 delightful

29 tarry

80 where sin nor mourning

81 MS. here

82 treasure-chest
88 indeed

THE PEARL

' Bot, jueler gente, if pou schal lose
py joy for a gemme )>at ]>e watz lef,1
Me pynk ]>e put in a mad porpose,2
And busyez )>e 3 aboute a raysoun bref 4 ;

For pat |>ou lestez5 watz bot a rose

pat flowred and fayled 6 as kynde hyt gef 7 ;

Now, furj kynde of pe kyste8 pat hyt con close,9
To a perle of prys hit is put in pref.10
And ]>ou hatz called py wyrde a pef,11
pat ogt of nojt 12 hatz mad pe cler,18
pou blamez 14 )>e bote 1o of py meschef 16 ;
pou art no kynde 17 jueler.’

A juel to me j>en watz ]>ys geste,18
And juelez wern hyr gentyl sawez.19
' Iwyse,’ quod I, ' my blysfol beste,20
My grete dystresse pou al todrawez.21
To be excused I make requeste ;

I trawed 22 my perle don out of dawez 28 ;

Now haf I fonde hyt, I schal ma feste,24
And wony 25 wyth hyt in schyr 26 wod-schawez,27
And love my Lorde and al his lawez,
pat hatz me brog[t] pys blys ner ;

Now were I at28 yow bygonde pise wawez,29
I were a joyfol jueler.’

'Jueler,’ sayde pat gemme clene,80
' Wy borde 31 ge men, so madde ge be ?

1 dear

l2 something from nothing

23 perished

2 given over to mad intent

1® manifestly

24 make merry

3 thou troublest thyself

14 dost reproach

2S dwell

4 matter of short duration

I5 remedy

28 bright

5 lost

1® injury

27 groves

6 withered

17 grateful

28 beside

7 nature permitted it

i® guest

29 waves

8 chest

19 words

30 pure

9 enclose

20 best one

81 jest

10 it is proved to be

21 puttest an end to

n thief

22 believed

LYRICS

452

J?re wordez hatz fou spoken at ene 1 ;
Unavysed,2 3 forsofe, wern alle f>re ;

)?ou ne woste 8 in worlde 4 quat on dotz mene,5
\>y worde byfore fy wytte con fle.

5 ]?ou says fou trawez me in J>is dene,6

Bycawse fou may wyth ygen me se ;

Anofer fou says, in fys countre
]?yself schal won wyth me ryjt here ;

J?e f rydde, to passe pys water fre —

10 J?at may no joyfol jueler. . .

' In blysse I se fe blyfely blent,7
And I a man al momyf 8 mate 9 ;

^e take feron ful lyttel tente,10
)?ag I hente 11 ofte harmez hate.12
1 5 Bot now I am here in your presente,18

I wolde bysech wythouten debate
^e wolde me say in sobre asente 14
What lyf ge lede erly and late ;

For I am ful fayn 13 fat your astate 16
20 Is worfen 17 to worschyp and wele, iwysse ;

Of alle my joy fe hyge gate,18

Hit is in grounde 19 of alle my blysse.’

' Now blysse, burne,20 mot ]>e bytyde,’

J>en sayde fat lufsoum of lyth and lere 21 ;

25 'And welcum here to walk and byde,

For now fy speche is to me dere ;

Maysterful mod 22 and hyge pryde,

I hete 23 fe, arn heterly 24 hated here.

1 one time

2 ill considered
8 knowest not

4 at all

3 a single one means (lit.

does mean)

6 valley

7 joyously mingled

8 mournful

9 dejected

10 heed

11 experience

12 burning

13 presence

14 compliance

15 glad

16 condition

17 is turned

1® road

49 at the basis

20 sir

21 that one, lovely of limb

and face

22 temper

23 assure

24 bitterly

GODRIC’S HYMNS

453

My Lorde ne lovez not for to chyde,

For meke am alle ]>at wonez hym nere ;

And when in hys place J>ou schal apere,

Be dep devote 1 in hoi 2 * mekenesse ;

My Lorde j>e Lamb lovez ay such chere 8 —
}’at is ]>e grounde of alle my blysse.

' A blysful lyf |)ou says I lede ;
p>ou woldez knaw ]>erof )>e stage.4
pow wost wel when |iy perle con schede 5
I watz ful jong and tender of age ;

Bot my Lorde J>e Lombe, |>unt; hys Godhede,
He toke myself to hys maryage,

Corounde me quene in blysse to brede 6
In lenghe of dayez )>at ever schal wage 7 ;
And sesed in 8 alle hys herytage
Hys lef 9 is, I am holy hysse ;

Hys prese,10 hys prys,11 and hys parage,13
Is rote and grounde of alle my blysse.’

GODRIC’S HYMNS

It is not for beauty of phrasing or loveliness of movement that these verses
are remarkable. They are here printed because they are early (Godric died
in 1170) ; because their author was illiterate; and because he had such a sin¬
gular career. He was successively peddler, pirate, and palmer, before, at the
age of forty or over, he turned to the hermit’s life. He is described as broad-
shouldered, with well-set, sinewy frame, and flowing beard ; and his hair in
earlier life was black. Of him, as of Chaucer’s shipman, it might be said :

With many a tempest hadde his herd been shake.

During his wandering life, he was for several years the master of a vessel ply¬
ing between England, Scotland, Denmark, and Flanders ; journeyed twice to
Jerusalem, and on May 29, 1102, carried Baldwin I, King of Jerusalem, to Jaffa
in his ship ; and visited Rome, St. Giles in Provence, and Compostella. The

2 all

8 demeanor

4 degree of advancement

1 deeply devout

s did fall
6 dwell
? endure

8 put in possession of

9 precious one
1° worth

11 excellence

12 noble lineage

454

LYRICS

last sixty years of his life he spent at Finchale, near Durham. He knew a little
French, and could read at least the Psalter in Latin. He ' had unique influence
over animals. His heifer, the hare that was nibbling at his garden herbs, the
frozen birds, the stag pursued by huntsmen, all found a friend in him ’ {Diet.
Nat. Biog.). In extreme old age he became clairvoyant, and ’would interrupt
his conversation to utter prayers for the storm-tossed vessels of his dreams.’
See Kingsley, Hermits ; Alban Butler’s and Baring-Gould’s Lives of the Saints ;
and especially the Diet. Nat. Biog.

The music of all three hymns, found in MS. Brit. Mus. Royal S. F. 7, is
reproduced as the frontispiece of Saintsbury’s History of English Prosody, with
a somewhat imperfect text.

HYMN TO THE VIRGIN

This hymn was taught, as he believed, to Godric, by the Virgin Mary
herself. The text is from Zupitza’s edition (Eng. Stud. 11.423). The music to
which it was sung is printed in Stevenson’s edition of Reginald's life of the
saint (Surtees Soc., Vol. 20), p. 288.

Sainte Marie, Virgine,

Moder Jesu Cristes Nazarene,

Onfo,1 scild,2 help pin3 Godric,

Onfang,1 bring hehlic 4 wifi pe in Godes ric.6

Sainte Marie, Cristes bur,6
Maidenes clenhad,7 moderes flur,8
Dilie 9 mine sinne, rixe 10 in min mod,

Bring me to winne 11 wiS self God.

HYMN OF BURGWINE, GODRIC’S SISTER

Godric’s sister had led a hermit’s life in a cell near him at Finchale. After
her death he was concerned about the state of her soul. One night he had a
vision of the Virgin Mary followed by two men in white garments, and between
them the spirit of his sister. They floated down upon the altar of his oratory,
and his sister, standing upon the altar, sang the following lines (Zupitza, p. 429).

1 receive

2 protect
8 thy

4 gloriously

6 kingdom s flower

6 bower; chamber (alluding to Ps. 19. 5, under- 9 blot out

stood of Christ as the bridegroom) 10 reign

7 Parity 11 bliss

I SIGH WHEN I SING

455

The ' scamel,’ or footstool, here refers to the altar, with allusion to i Chron.
2S.3; Ps. 99.5; 132.7; Isa. 60. 13; for the footstool may be identified with
the mercy-seat of the old dispensation (Exod. 25. 16-22), and hence with the
altar in the Christian church.

Crist and Seinte Marie swa 1 on scamel me iledde 2
]?at Ic on ]>is er<5e ne silde 8 wib mine bare fote itredie.4

HYMN TO ST. NICHOLAS

St. Nicholas is reported by his biographer, Reginald (ed. Stevenson, p. 202),
to have once visited Godric in a dream at Eastertide, in company with angels
descending to Christ's sepulchre, to have sung with them, and to have urged
Godric to sing also, which he did. Our hymn, however, has no direct allusion
to this occurrence.

The third line should, according to Zupitza (p. 430), be brought into direct
relation with the end of the first (' God’s darling at thy birth, at thy bier ’) —
which indicates that Godric’s literary technique left something to be desired.

Sainte Nicholses, Godes druS,
Tymbre 5 us faire scone 6 hus — -
At }>i burth, at Jn bare —

Sainte Nicholses, bring us wel (tare.7

I SIGH WHEN I SING

About 1310. From Boddeker, pp. 210-2

I syke 8 when Y singe,

For sore we pat Y se,

When Y wi)> wypinge 9
Biholde upon f>e tre,

Ant se Jesu, J>e suete,

Is 10 herte-blod forlete 11
For Jte love of me.

Ys10 woundes waxen wete ;
]?ei wepen stille and mete 12 ;
Marie rewe)> J>e.

1 so

2 led

8 should
4 tread

5 build

9 weeping

7 there

8 sigh

6 beautiful

10 his

11 lose

12 gently

456

LYRICS

Hege upon a doune,1
per al folk hit se may,

A mile from pe 2 toune,

Aboute pe midday,

5 pe rode is up arered ;

His frendes aren afered,

Ant clyngep 3 so 4 pe clay.
pe rode stont 5 in stone ;

Marie stont hire one,6

io Ant seif> ' Weylaway 1 ’

When Y pe biholde
Wip eygen bryhte bo,7
Ant pi bodi colde,
pi ble 8 waxep bio 9 ;
pou hengest al of blode
So hege upon pe rode,

Bituene peves tuo.

Who may syke more ?

Marie wepep sore,

Ant sip 10 al pis wo.

pe naylles bep to stronge,
pe smypes are to sleye 11 ;
pou bledest al to longe,
pe tre is al to heyge.

25 pe stones beop al wete,

Alas, Jesu, pe suete !

For nou frend hast pou non
Bote Seint Johan moumynde,

Ant Marie wepynde

30 For pyne pat pe ys on.

9 livid

10 MS. siht (em. B.)

11 skilful

1 hill

2 MS. uch (em. B.)
8 shrink up

4 like

6 stands ; MS. stond
° by herself

7 both

8 color

A SONG TO THE VIRGIN

457

Ofte when Y sike
And makie my mon,

Wei ille |>ah me like 1
Wonder is hit non ;

When Y se honge hege,

Ant bittre pynes dreje,2
Jesu, my lemmon.8
His wondes sore smerte ;
p& spere al to [h]is herte

Ant }>ourh [h]is syde [i]s 4 gon.

Ofte when Y syke,

Wi}? care Y am )?ourhsoht 5 •,

When Y wake, Y wyke,6
Of serewe is al mi ]?oht.

Alas ! men be}? wode 7
pat suere}? by )?e rode,

And sellej? him for noht
pat bohte us out of synne.

He bring 8 us to Wynne 9
pat ha}? us duere 10 boht !

A SONG TO THE VIRGIN

Thirteenth century. From MS. Brit. Mus. Egerton 613, printed by Morris,

Old E7iglish Miscellany (E.E.T.S. 49), pp. 194-5.

Of on }?at is so fayr and brijt
Velut 11 maris stella ,

Brijter J?an J?e dayis lijt,

Parens et paella.

Ic crie to }?e ; J?ou se 12 to me ;

Levedy, preye )?i Sone for me,

Tam pia ,

1 if I like it full ill 6 pierced 9 bliss

2 suffer 6 grow weak 1° dearly

3 darling 7 demented 11 MS. velud

4 MS. sydes 8 subj. 12 look

458

LYRICS

pat Ic mote 1 come to pe,

Maria.

Of kare 2 * conseil 8 }>ou ert best,
Felix , fecundata ;

5 Of alle wery 4 f>ou ert rest,

Mater honorata.

Bisek him wijt 6 milde mod
pat for ous alle s[h]ad [h] is blod
In cruce,

io pat we moten komen til him

In luce.

A1 )>is world was forlore,

Eva peccatrice,

Tyl our Lord was ybore
1 5 De te genitrice ;

With Ave 6 it went away —

J>uster 7 nyht — and comet[h] J>e day
Salutis ;

p& welle springeth ut of ]>e
20 Virtutis.

Levedi, flour8 of alle }nng,9
Rosa sine spina ,

]?u bere10 Jesu, hevene King,

Gratia divina ;

25 Of alle ]>u berst pe pris,11

Levedi, quene of Parays
Electa,

Mayde milde, moder es
Effect a.

1 may

2 anxiety

8 counsel

4 who are weary

6 MS. wiz

6 hail (anagram of Eva)

7 dark

8 flower

9 things
1° barest
11 prize

STAND WELL, MOTHER, UNDER ROOD

459

Wei he wot 1 he is fi Sone,

Ventre quem portasti ;

He wyl nout weme 2 fe ]>i bone,3
Parvum quem Iactasti ;

So hende 4 and so god he is,5 5

He havet[h] brou[h]t ous to blis
Superni

pat havez hidut 6 fe foule put 7
Inferni.

STAND WELL, MOTHER, UNDER ROOD

About 1310. From Boddeker, pp. 206-8

' Stond wel, moder, under rode, 10

Byhold 8 ]ry Sone wif glade mode ;

Blyf e, moder, myht 9 fou be ! ’

' Sone, hou shulde Y blyfe stonde ?

Y se fin fet, Y se fin honde,

Nayled to fe harde tre.’ 15

' Moder, do wey 10 fy wepinge ;

Y foie 11 def for monkynde,

For my gult foie Y non.’

' Sone, Y fele fe dede-stounde 12 ;

pe suert is at myn herte grounde 18 20

pat me byhet14 Symeon.’

' Moder, merci, let me deye,

For Adam out of helle [to] beye,

Ant his kun, fat is fcrlore.’

1 knows

2 deny

8 prayer, boon

4 gracious

5 MS. his

8 covered

7 pit

8 MS. -holt
o mayst

1° away

I4 foretold

460

LYRICS

' Sone, what shal me to rede 1 ?

My peyne pynep me to dede 2 ;

Lat me dege pe byfore.’

' Moder, pou rewe al of pi Bern 3 ;
pou wosshe awai pe blody tern,4

Hit do]?5 me worse pen my ded.’

* Sone, hou may Y teres werne 6 ?

Y se pe blody stremes erne 7

From pin herte to my fet.’

' Moder, nou Y may pe seye,

Betere is pat Ich one 8 deye
pen9 al monkunde to helle go.’

' Sone, Y se pi bodi bysw[o]ngen,10

Fet and honde pourhout stongen 11 ;

No wonder pah 12 me be wo.’

' Moder, nou Y shal pe telle,

^ef Y ne dege, pou gost to helle ;

Y pole ded for pine sake.’

’ Sone, pou art so meke and mynde,13

Ne wyt 14 me naht — -hit is my kynde 13 —

J>at Y for pe pis sorewe make.’

' Moder, nou pou miht wel leren 16

Whet sorewe havep 17 pat children beren,

Whet sorewe hit is wip childe gon.’

' Sorewe ? ywis,18 Y con pe telle !

Bote 19 hit be pe pyne 20 of helle,

More serewe wot Y non.’

1 as advice

2 death

3 son

4 tears

6 affects

6 forbid
" run

3 alone 15 nature

9 than 16 canst easily explain

i° em. B. u they have

n pierced is indeed

42 if 19 unless

13 considerate 20 pain

14 blame

STAND WELL, MOTHER, UNDER ROOD 461

' Moder, rew of moder-kare,

For nou |>ou wost of moder-fare,1
pah 2 pou be clene mayden on.8 ’

' Sone, help at alle nede
Alle po pat to me grede,4

Maiden, wif, ant fol8 wymmon.’

' Moder, may Y no lengore duelle,6
pe time is come, Y shal 7 to helle ;

pe pridde day Y ryse upon.’

' Sone, Y wil wip pe [be] founden ;

Y deye, yvvis, for pine wounden —

So soreweful ded nes never non.’

When he ros, po 8 fel hire sorewe,

Hire blisse sprang pe pridde morewe;

Blype, moder, were pou po !

Levedy, for pat ilke blisse,

Bysech pi Sone of sunnes lisse 9 ;
pou be oure sheld ajeyn 10 oure fo.

Blessed be pou, ful of blysse !

Let us never hevene misse,
pourh pi 11 suete Sones myht.

Loverd, for pat ilke 12 blod
pat pou sheddest on pe rod,
pou bryng us into hevene-lyht.

1 mother-doings

2 though ; MS. Jrou

3 one, a ; MS. mon

4 crv

5 foolish, loose

9 sin’s remission
I9 against

11 MS.sourh f>ich (em. B.)

12 same

cry

6 stay

7 must
3 then

LYRICS

AS I RODE

About 1310. From Boddeker, pp. 218-9

Ase Y me rod, pis ender 1 day,

By grene wode to seche play,

Mid herte Y pohte al on a may,2
Suetest of alle pinge ;

Lype,3 and Ich ou telle may
Al of )>at suete pinge.

Jtis maiden is suete ant fre of blod,4
Briht and feyr, of milde mod ;

Alle heo mai don us god
]?urh hire bysechynge ;

Of hire he tok fleysh and blod,

Jesu Crist, hevene Kynge.

Wip al mi lif Y love pat may ;

He is mi solas nyht and day,

My joie, and eke my beste play,6
Ant eke my love-longynge ;

Al pe betere me is pat day
Jtat Ich of hire synge.

Of alle pinge Y love hir mest,6
My dayes blis, my nyhtes rest,

Heo counseilep and helpep best
Bope elde and synge 7 ;

Nou Y may, jef Y wole,

Jte fif joyes mynge.8

]?e furst joie of pat wymman9 —

When Gabriel from hevene cam,

7 old and young

8 mention

9 MS. wyn-

4 descent, parentage

5 delight

6 most

AS I RODE

463

Ant seide God shulde bicome man,

Ant of hire be bore,

And bringe up of helle pyn
Monkyn 1 pat wes forlore.

pat oper 2 joie of pat may
Wes o 3 Cristesmasse day,

When God wes bore, on porwe 4 lay,

Ant brohte us lyhtnesse 3 ;
pestri 6 wes seie 7 byfore day,
pis hirdes 8 berep wytnesse.

pe pridde joie of pat levedy —
pat men clepep pe Epyphany,

When pe kynges come, wery,

To presente hyre Sone
Wip myrre, gold, and encenz,
pat 9 wes Mon bicome.

pe furpe joie we telle mawen —

On Estermorewe, w[h]en 10 hit gon dawen,11
Hyre sone, pat wes slawen,

Aros in fleysh and bon ;

More joie ne mai me haven
Wyf ne mayden non.

pe fifte joie of pat wymman —

When hire body to hevene cam,
pe soule to pe body nam,12
Ase hit wes woned to bene.13
Crist, leve 14 us alle wip pat wymman
pat joie al for te sene.

1 mankind

2 second
8 on

4 manger

5 light

6 darkness

7 seen

8 shepherds

9 who

1° em. B.

11 dawn

12 joined

is be
14 grant

464

LYRICS

Preye we alle to oure levedy,

Ant to |>e sontes 1 pat wone)> 2 hire by,
pat heo 8 of us haven merci,

Ant J?at we ne misse
In pis world to ben holy,

Ant wynne hevene blysse.

WHEN CHRIST WAS BORN OF MARY FREE

About 1456. From MS. Brit. Mus. Harl. 5396, printed by Wright, Specimens
of Old Christmas Carols (Percy Soc. 4), p. 32.

Christo paremus canticam ,

[Y/z] excel sis gloria.

1 saints

2 dwell

3 they

4 noble

When Cryst was born of Mary fre,4
In Bedlem in that fayre cyte,

Angellis song ther with myrth and gle :

In exce/sis gloria.

Herdmen5 beheld thes angellis bryjt,

To hem apperyd wyth gret lygt,

And seyd : ' Goddys Sone is born this nyjt ;

In excel sis gloria

Thys king 6 ys comyn to save [manjkynde,

In the Scriptur 7 as we fynde ;

Therfore this song have we in mynde :

In excel sis gloria.

Then, Lord, for thy gret[e] grace,

Graunt us the blys to se thy face,

Where we may syng to thy solas :

In ex cel sis gloria.

6 shepherds 7 MS. as yn Scripturas (em.

6 MS. keng (em. Chambers C. and S.)

and Sidgwick, Early Eng¬
lish Lyrics')

AT CHRISTMAS, MAID MARY

465

AT CHRISTMAS, MAID MARY

About 1425. Sections 6 and 7 (lines 59-S4) of Festivals of the Church , from
MS. Brit. Mus. Royal iS A. 10, printed by Morris, Legends of the Holy Rood
(E.E.T.S. 46), pp. 212-3.

At Cristemasse, mayde Mary,

Jiorowe helpe of |>e Holy Goostis heste,1
J>i Brid 2 3 was born, and lay ]>e by,

Aboute bope bynne 8 and beeste.

]?e aungels rnaden melody
For joye of Cristis feeste ;

A clere note |>ei sang in }>e sky

Whan Kyngis Sone bare fleisshly creste.4
Scheperdes, meest and leest,

' Joye to God full of love ! ’

Herden ]>ei aungels synge above,

' Pes to man ! J>e devyll is drove 5
Fro Goddis trone in pe eest.’

J>an mygt pe mylde may 6 synge,

Ysaye, pe woord of pee :

' Jlou seydest 7 a gerd schulde sprynge
Oute of pe rote of jentill Jesse,

And schulde floure with fiorisschyng,

With primeroses greet plente ;

Into J>e croppe 8 schulde come a Kyng
J>at is a Lord of power and pyte —

My swete Sone I see !

I am pe gerde,9 pou art pe Flour !

My Brid 10 is borne by 11 beest in boure ;
My Primerose, my Paramour,12
With love I lulle pee.’

1 bidding

2 son (fit. bird)

3 manger

4 crest, insignia

5 driven

6 maiden

t Isa. 11. 1
8 topmost branch

9 shoot

10 child (lit. bird)
U near

12 sweetheart

466

LYRICS

I SING OF A MAIDEN

About 1450. From MS. Brit. Mus. Sloane 2593, as printed by Fehr in
Herrig's Archiv 109. 50.

I syng of a mayden
pat is makeles 1 ;

Kyng of alle kynges

To here Sone [s]che2 ches.8

5 He cam also 4 stylle

Jtere 5 his moder was
As dew 6 in Aprylle
pat fallyt on pe gras ;

He cam also stylle

10 To his moderes bowr

As dew in Aprille

pat fallyt on J>e flour ;

He cam also stylle
]?ere his moder lay

15 As dew in Aprille

pat fallyt on jie spray ;

Moder and maydyn

Was never non but [s]che 2 ;

Wei may swych a lady

20 Godes moder be.

LULLAY, MY CHILD

About 1460-1490. From MS. Bodl. Eng. Poet. e. 1, printed by Wright in
Songs and Carols (Percy Soc. 73), p. 19.

Lullay , my Child. , a,7id wepe no more ;

Slepe, and be now styll ;

The King of blys thy Fader ys,

As it was hys wyll.

8 chose

1 matchless

2 MS. che (em. Chambers and Sidgwick)

s where
8 Cf. Ps. 72. 6

LULLAY, MY CHILD

467

This endrys 1 nygt T saw a sygt 2 —

A mayd a cradyll kepe —

And ever she song, and seyd among :

' Lullay, my child, and slepe.’

' I may not slepe, but I may wepe,

I am so wo begone ;

Slep I [w]old, butt 1 am colde,

And clothys have I none.’

Me thougt I hard 3 the Chyld answard,

And to hvs moder he sayd :

' My moder der, what do I her,

In cribbe why am I layd ?

I was borne, and layd beforne
Bestys, both ox and asse ;

My moder mild, I am thy Child,

But he my Fader was.

Adam’s gylt this man had spylt 4 ;

That sin grevet[h] me sore.

Man, for the her shall I be
Thyrty wynter and mor.

Dole® is to se, her shall I be
Hang[ed] upon the rode ;

With baleis 6 tobete,7 my woundes towete,8
And geffe my fleshe to bote.9

Here shall I be hanged on a tre,

And dye, as it is skyll 10 ;

That I have bougt leese 11 wyll I nougt ;

It is my Faders will.

1 other SMS. dole it 9 atonement

2 MS. syjth 6 scourge 10 proper, right

8 heard 7 smitten 11 lose ; MS. lesse

4 ruined 8 dripping

468

LYRICS

A spere so scharp shall perse my herte
For dedys that I have done ;

Fader of grace, wher 1 thou hase
Forgetyn thy lytyll Sonne ?

Withouten pety 2 her shall aby,3
And mak my fleshe all bio.4
Adam, iwys, this deth it ys
For the and many mo.’

THE SHEPHERD UPON A HILL HE SAT

About 1500 (or earlier). From MS. Oxford Balliol 354, as printed by Fliigel
in Angl. 26. 243-5 (cf. Neueng. Lesebuch, pp. 117-9), wbh b for MS. y. See
55 4 24 ff.

Can I not syng but ' Hoy /’

Whan the joly shepard made so mych joy.

The shepard upon a hill he satt ;

He had on hym his tabard 3 and his hat,
Plys tarbox, his pype, and hys flagat 6 ;

Hys name was called Joly, Joly Wat,

For he was a gud herdesboy.

Ut hoy !

For in hys pype he made so mych joy.

The shepard upon a hill was layd ;

Hys doge to hys gyrdyll was tayd.7
He had not slept but a lytill brayd 8
But9 Gloria in excelsis was to hym sayd.

Ut hoy 1

For in his pipe he mad so myche joy.

1 whether

5 loose upper garment with-

8 while ) MS. broyd (em. F.)
s when

2 pity
8 expiate

6 flask, bottle

out sleeves

THE SHEPHERD UPON A HILL HE SAT 469

The shepard [up]on a hill he stode ;

Rownd abowt hym his shepe they yode.1
He put hys hond under hys hode,2
He saw a star as rede as blod.

U t hoy ! 5

For in his pipe he mad so myche joy.

' Now farwell, Mall, and also Will,

For my love go ye all sty 11
Unto 8 I cum agayn you till 4 ;

And evermore, [Wjill,5 ryng well thy bell. 10

Ut hoy ! ’

For in his pipe he mad so mych joy.

' Now must I go per 6 Cryst was borne ;

Farewell, I cum agayn to-morn 7 ;

Dog, kepe well my shep fro pe corn, 15

And warn well warroke 8 when I blow my hom.

Ut hoy ! ’

For in hys pipe he made so mych joy.

Whan Wat to Bedlem cum[en] was,

He swet — he had gon faster than a pace 9 ; 20

He fownd Jesu in a sympyll place,

Betwen an ox and an asse.

Ut hoy !

For in his pipe he mad so mych joy.

The shepard sayd anon ryght : 25

' I will go se yon farly 10 syght,

Wheras pe angell syngith on hight,11
And the star pat shynyth so bryght.

Ut hoy ! ’

For in [his] 12 pipe he made so mych joy.

1 went

2 hood (to lift it up)
8 until

* to

5 em. F.

8 where
7 to-morrow

n high
12 em. F.

9 walk

10 wondrous

B(?)

3°

470

LYRICS

' Jesu, I offer to the here my pype,

My skyrte,1 my tarbox, and my scrype 2 ;

Home to my felowes now will I skype,

And also loke unto my shepe.

Ut hoy 1 ’

P’or 3 in his pipe he mad so myche joy.

' Now farewell, myne owne herdesman, Wat ! ’

' Ye, for God, lady, even so I hat 4 ;

Lull well Jesu in thy lape,

And farewell, Joseph, wyth thy rownd cape.

Ut hoy ! ’

For in hys pipe he mad so myche joy.

Now may I well both hope5 and syng,

For3 I have bene a[t] Crystes beryng6;

Home to my felowes now wyll I flyng.7
Cryst of hevyn to his blis us bryng !

Ut hoy ! ’

For in his pipe he mad so myche joy.

JUDAS

About 1300 (New Eng. Diet. s.v. plate). From MS. Camb. Trin. Coll. B.
14-39 (photograph in my possession); cf. Child, English and Scottish Popular
Ballads , No. 23. The manuscript has y for }> and -st(e) for - > it is otherwise

carelessly written (paid for wij> , won for hou (?)), etc., but I have made very
few emendations, though one is tempted to change aros to aras, for instance.

Mirk (about 1400?) says (Festial, E.E.T.S., Ex. Ser. 96, p. 79) : 'Judas had
befor slayne his owne fadyr, and bylayn hys owne modyr.’

Hit wes upon a Scere ]?orsday pat ure Loverd aros ;

Ful milde were pe wordes he spec to Judas :

1 (?) ; MS. scrype (em. Fliigel) 4 am called 6 birth

2 scrip ; MS. skyrte (em. Fliigel) 5 hop 7 rush

s MS. ffor

19. Scere Jwrsday : Maundy Thursday ; Mirk explains (Festial, p. 125) : 'In
old fadyrs dayes, men wold pat day make scher horn honest, and dodde hor
heddys, and clyp hor berdys, and so make horn onest a3eynes Astyr-day. For,
on the morow, pay wold do hor body non ese, but suffyr penance yn mynd of
hym pat suffred so hard for horn ’ ; cf. p. 169.

JUDAS

471

' Judas, pou most to Jurselem, oure mete for to bugge1 ;

J’ritti platen2 of selver ]>ou here upo pi rugge.3

]?ou comest fer i 4 pe brode stret, fer i pe brode strete ;

Summe of pine tunesmen ]>er pou meigt imete.5 ’

Imette wid is soster,6 pe swikele 7 wimon. 5

'Judas, ]>ou were wrpe8 me9 stende 10 pe wid ston,

[Judas, )>ou were wrpe me stende pe wid ston,]

For J>e false prophete pat tou bilevest upon.’

' Be stille, leve soster, pin herte pe tobreke 11 !

Wiste12 min Loverd,18 Crist, ful wel he wolde be wreke.14 ’ 10

' J udas, go pou on pe roc, heie upon pe ston ;
Lei pin heved i my barm,16 slep pou pe anon.’

Sone so 16 Judas of slepe was awake,

J?ritti platen of selver from hym weren itake.

He drou 17 hymselve bi pe cop,18 pat al [h]it lavede 19 a 20 blode ; 1 5
J?e Jewes out of Jurselem awenden21 he were wode.

Foret22 hym com pe riche Jeu pat heigte28 Pilatus.

' Wolte sulle 24 pi Loverd, pat hette 25 Jesus ? ’

' I nul 26 sulle my Loverd for nones cunnes eigte,27

Bote hit be for pe pritti platen pat he me bitaigte.28 ’ 20

1 buy

2 Wyclif has "plates,” Matt.

26. 15, etc.

3 back

4 in

6 meet

6 sister

‘ treacherous

8 deserving

9 (that) one

10 stoned

n break, subj.

12 if . . . knew (it)

18 lord

14 avenged

15 lap

16 as soon as

11 drew
is head

19 was bathed

20 in

21 thought

22 forth

28 was called

24 wilt thou sell

25 is called

26 will not

21 no kind of property
28 entrusted

472

LYRICS

' Wolte sulle pi Lord, Crist, for enes cunnes golde ? ’

' Nay, bote hit be for pe platen pat he habben wolde.’

In him1 com ur Lord gon, as [h]is postles seten at mete.

' Wou 2 sitte ye, postles, ant wi nule ye ete ?

5 [Wou sitte ye, postles, ant wi nule ye ete ?]

Ic am iboujt ant isold to-day for oure 3 mete.’

Up stod him Judas : ' Lord, am I pat ?

I nas never o pe stude 4 per me 6 pe evel spec.6 ’

Up him stod Peter, ant spec wid al is mijte :
io ' pau 7 Pilatus him come wid ten hundred cnijtes,

[J>au Pilatus him com wid ten hundred cnijtes,]

Yet Ic wolde, Loverd, for pi love fijte.’

' Still pou be, Peter 1 wel I pe icnowe 8 ;

pou wolt fursake me prien 9 ar pe coc him crowe.’

ST. STEPHEN AND HEROD

About 1450. From MS. Brit. Mus. Sloane 2593, as printed by Child,
Ballads , No. 22.

15 Seynt Stevene was a clerk in Kyng Herowdes halle,

And servyd him of bred and clop,10 as every kyng befalle.

Stevyn out of kechone cam, wyth boris hed on honde ;

He saw a sterre was fayr and bryjt over Bedlem stonde.

1 refl. 5 any one 9 thrice

2 how (is it that) ; or read wi ? 8 spake 10 tablecloth

3 your ' though

4 place 8 know

7. hat: Matzner ( Altengl . Sprachproben 1. 114) suggests wreck after this
word ; but would the c of spec be palatal ?

ST. STEPHEN AND HEROD

473

He kyst 1 adoun pe boris hed, and went into pe halle.

' I forsak pe, Kyng Herowdes, and pi werkes alle.

' I forsak pe, Kyng Herowdes, and pi werkes alle ;
pe r is a chyld in Bedlem born is beter pan we alle.’

' Quat eylyt 2 pe, Stevene ? quat 8 is pe befalle ?

Lakkyt 4 pe eyper mete or drynk in Kyng Herowdes halle ? ’

' Lakit me neyper mete ne drynk in Kyng Herowdes halle ;

Jter is a chyld in Bedlem born is beter pan we alle.’

' Quat eylyt pe, Stevyn ? art pu wod,5 or pu gynnyst to brede 6 ?
Lakkyt pe eyper gold or fe, or ony ryche wede 7 ? ’

' Lakyt me neyper gold ne fe, ne non ryche wede ;

J?er is a chyld in Bedlem born xal 8 helpyn us at our nede.’

' pat is al so sop, Stevyn, al so sop, iwys,

As pis capoun crowe xal pat lyp here in myn dysh.’

pat word was not so sone seyd, pat word in pat halle,
pc capoun crew Crishis natus est ! among pe lordes alle.

' Rysyt 9 up, myn turmentowres, be to 10 and al[s] 11 be on,

And ledyt Stevyn out of pis town, and stonyt hym wyth ston ! ’

Tokyn he 12 Stevene, and stonyd hym in the way,

And perfore is his evyn 13 on Crystes owyn day.

1 cast

6 be pregnant (?)

11 also

2 ails

7 garment

12 they took

3 what

8 shall

13 eve, vigil

* fails

3 rise (imp.)

6 mad

1° by two

474

LYRICS

CHAUCER, INVOCATION TO VENUS

Troilns and Criseyde 3-. 1 — 1 4, which is translated from Boccaccio’s Filostrato
3. 585-600 :

O luce etema, il cui lieto splendore
Fa bello il terzo ciel, dal qual ne piove
Piacer, vaghezza, pietade ed amore ;

Del sole arnica, e figliuola di Giove,

Benigna donna d’ ogni gentil core,

Certa cagion del valor che mi muove
A’ sospir dolci della mia salute,

Sempre lodata sia la tua virtute.

Il ciel, la terra, lo mare e 1’ inferno
Ciascuno in se la tua potenzia sente,

O chiara luce ; e s’ io il ver discemo,

Le piante, i semi, e 1’ erbe puramente,

Gli uccei, le here, i pesci con etemo
Vapor ti senton nel tempo piacente,

E gli uomini e gli dei, ne creatura
Senza di te nel mondo vale o dura.

For an extended comment, see my article, Herrig's Archiv 119 (1907). 40-54.

O blisful light, of whiche the bemes clere
Adometh al the thridde hevene 1 faire ;

O sonnes leef, O Joves doughter dere,

Plesaunce of love, O goodly, debonaire,2 3
5 In gentil hertes ay redy to repaire ;

O verray cause of hele 8 and of gladnesse,

Yheried 4 be thy might and thy goodnesse !

In hevene and helle, in erthe and salte see
Is felt thy might, if that I wel descerne ;

10 As man, brid, best, fish, herbe, and grene tree

Thee fele in tymes with vapour 5 eterne.

God loveth, and to love wol nought werne 6 ;

And in this world no lyves 7 creature,

Withouten love, is worth, or may endure.

1 that of Venus 4 praised, exalted 6 forbid

2 gracious 6 inspiration 7 living

3 well-being

CHAUCER, INVOCATION TO THE TRINITY 475

CHAUCER, INVOCATION TO THE TRINITY

Troilus and Criseyde 5. 1863-1869. The first three lines are from Dante,
Paradiso 14.28-30:

Quell’ uno e due e tre che sempre vive,

E regna sempre in tre e due ed uno,

Non circonscritto, e tutto circonscrive.

Thou oon, and two, and three, eterne onlyve,1
That regnest ay in three and two and oon,
Uncircumscript, and al mayst circumscryve,

Us from visible and invisible foon

Defende ; and to thy mercy, everychoon, 5

So make us, Jesus, for thy grace digne,2
Eor love of mayde and moder thyn benigne !

1 in life, living 2 worthy

PLAYS

THE CLERIC AND THE MAIDEN

This fragmentary ' interlude,’ belonging to the thirteenth century, is the
first English comedy, and the only one extant from the Middle Ages. It was
printed by Wright from a manuscript then in private hands, but now MS. Brit.
Mus. Add. 23,986, written about 1300 by a French scribe. A more critical edition
is by Heuser ( Anglia 30. 306-19). According to the latter, the dialect indicates
south Yorkshire or north Lincolnshire; as there is mention in Dame Sirith
(see above, p. 145) of Boston, in Lincolnshire, the two works belong to the
same region, though the manuscript of Dame Sirith hails from Worcester.
Heuser assumes that both works rest upon a lost interlude. He concludes :

1. Dame Sirith was originally written in rhyming couplets.

2. Dame Sirith has only 47 narrative lines (24 of these at the beginning)
out of 450, and these occur almost exclusively when a new character enters ;
everything indicates that it was an interlude before it was a fabliau.

3. Dame Sirith and our interlude are akin in subject, dramatic character,
verse, dialect, and occasionally in phraseology ; hence both repose upon a
thirteenth-century interlude.

4. Various changes of the original appear in Dame Sirith (narrative addi¬
tions, verse, dialect), so that our interlude does not spring from the fabliau.
In the interlude the deceived woman is a girl, not, as in every other version,
a wife ; hence the fabliau does not spring from the present interlude. It is
likely that each author worked, not from a manuscript, but from his own
recollection of the acted interlude.

5. The names throw no light upon a possible French origin. For (a) as the
scribe was French (Heuser, p. 310), the saints, Michel and Dinis, signify
nothing ; (b) Mome Elwis and Malkyn are English names ; the Margeri of
Dame Sirith is French, but must have been used in England; the Willekin
of Dame Sirith is English; Sirith is Scandinavian (= Sigrith) ; the Nelde of
Dame Sirith is hardly a proper name, but possibly from OE. eald, old. Elwis,
or Helwys, points to the eastern part of England, where there occur such
family-names as Helwys and Elwes.

With respect to Heuser’s (5), the indications are that behind the Clericus et
Puella there was a French original. Malkyn has a termination borrowed from
Dutch or Low German, but the first syllable is from the French Matilda (note
that the wife of Henry I changed her original name of Eadgyth, Edith, to
Matilda). Mone (MS. Mome) is borrowed from Scandinavian or Dutch. The
other names point clearly to France : to the saints, Michael and Denis, add

476

THE CLERIC AND THE MAIDEN

477

Leonard (cf. above, p. 3S7), who is associated with the vicinity of Limoges;
and Elwis is surely the French Ileluis (Helois, Heluiz, Ilelui, Heloi, Eluys),
which is frequently found in the French feudal epic before 1180 — thirteen
times in Garin le Lorrain , for instance (Langlois, Table des Noms Propres dans
les Chansons de Geste, pp. 329-30) ; compare Chaucer’s ' Helowys’ in Wife of
Bath's Prologue 677, referring to the mistress of Abelard. Then fayllard, 477 8
(following its noun), is French, like the beinard of Dame Sirith (152 19). As to
Dame Sirith, the name Margeri is French, as we have seen ; Willekin has the
same ending as Malkyn ; and Nelde (rather, nelde) represents a variant spell¬
ing of ' needle ’ (the one crone may have ostensibly supported herself with her
needle, as the other with her distaff).

Compare the Debate of the Cleric and the Maiden, pp. 418-20, above.

The interlude begins : Hie incipit Interludhim de Clerico et Puella, and these
names are retained throughout the stage-directions ; I have substituted Cler.
and Maid. I have also supplied the headings for the scenes, and made several
emendations.

The manuscript commonly represents initial (and occasionally 5) by y •, I
have restored the original forms. It also confounds w and v, supplies and
omits h at random, etc.

SCENE I

Maiden’s home. Enter Cleric and Maiden

Cler. Damisel,1 reste wel !

Maid. Sir, welcum, by Saynt Michel !

Cler. Wer es ty 2 sire ? Wer es ty dame ?

Maid. By Gode, es nojrer 3 her at hame-
Cler. Wel wor suilc a man to life,

]?at suilc a may mihte 4 have to wyfe 5 6 !

Maid. Do way, by Crist and Leonard!

No wil Y lufe na clerc fayllard 8 ;

Na kep7 I herbherg8 clerc in huse no9 y 10 flore,11
Bot 12 his hers 13 ly wituten 14 dore.

Go forth )>i way, god sire,

For15 her hastu losyt16 al ]?i hire.17

1 MS. damishel

2 thy ( t for th, as elsewhere)

8 neither

4 MS. mithe

8 Cf. 145 7-8

6 deceitful

7 care

8 to harbor

9 nor

10 on

n Cf. 145 27

12 unless

13 rump

14 outside the

15 MS. ff ., and always below

16 MS. losye ; cf. 147 5

17 MS. wile ; cf. Childhood of
Jesus 1384 (ca. 1300) in
Horstmann, Altenglische
Legenden , 1875: 'Elies
we leosez bo)>e ore
5wile and huyre.’

as initial

478 PLAYS

Cler. Nu, nu, by Crist and by Sant Jhon,

In al pis land ne wist I none,

Mayden, pat Hi luf mor pan }>e ;

Hif me micht ever ]>e better 1 be 1
5 For J?e Hy sory 2 * nicht and day ;

Y may say, 'Hay,8 wayleuay ! ’

Y luf ]ie mar 4 ]>an mi lif ;

]?u hates me mar )>an gayt5 dos cnif 6 —
pat es noutt 7 for mysgilt.8
io Certes,9 for ]n luf ham Hi spilt.10

A, suyte11 mayden, reu of me,12
pat es ty luf, hand ay sal be !

For pe luf of p[e] mod[er] 13 of hevene,14
pu mend ]>i mode,1'5 and her my stevene.16
15 Alaid. By Crist of hevene, and Sant Jon 17 !

Clerc of scole ne kep 18 I non,

For many god wymman haf pai don scam[e] —
By Crist, Jm michtis haf be 19 at hame 20 1
Cler. Syn 21 it n[on] o]>ir 22 gat 28 may be,

20 Jesu Crist24 bytech25 Y pe,

And send[e] 26 neulic 27 bot 28 tharinne,
pat Y 29 be lesit 80 of al my pine.81
Maid. Go nu, truan,32 go nu, go,

For mikel )>u canst33 of sory and wo !

1 MS. bether

2 sorrow

8 alas

4 more

6 goat; MS. yayt (j;ayt?)
8 knife ; MS. chuief (em.

Heuser)

7 not

8 misdeed

9 MS. certhes

1° undone

11 sweet ; MS. suythe

12 Cf. 146 12

18 MS. y mod (em. H.)

14 MS. efne

15 Cf. 146 11

16 cry

17 MS. jone

18 care for

19 been

29 Cf. 147 6

21 MS. synt

22 MS. nojnr ; cf. 480 10

23 Way

24 dat.

25 commend; MS.bytethy (em.

H.)

28 may he send

2" soon ; MS. neulit (em. H.)

28 amendment, help

29 MS. yi
80 freed
31 woe

82 vagabond
88 MS. canstu

THE CLERIC ANI) THE MAIDEN

479

SCENE II

Elwis’ home. Enter Cleric and Elwis

Cler. God te blis,1 mone 2 Helwis.

Mone 2 Elwis. Son, welcum, by San Dinis 8 !
Cler. Hie am comin4 to J>e, mone5 ;
pu hel6 me noht,7 Jm say me sone.

Hie am a clerc ]>at hauntes 8 scole ;

Y led 9 my lif wyt mikel dole 10 ;

Me wor lever to be ded 11

pan led the lif fat Hyc led,12

For an 13 mayden wit 14 and schen 15 —

Fayrer ho 16 lond hav 17 Y non sen.18

19 hat20 mayden Malkyn, Y wene —

Nu ]m wost quam 21 Y mene ;

wonys at the tounes ende,
pat suyt lif, so fayr and hende 22 ;

Bot-if 50 wil hir mod amende,

Neuly Crist my ded me send[e] 23 !

Men send 24 me hyder, wytuten 25 fayle,

To haf }>i help an[d] ty cunsayle.26
parfor am Y cummen here,
pat ]ui salt be my herandbere,27
To mac me and ]>at mayden sayct,28
And Hi sal gef pe of myn ayct,29
So ]>at hever, al )>i lyf,

Saltu be f>e better 80 wyf ;

note 5)

3 Cf. 148 to

4 come

6 MS. mome (mone rhymes

Gower, Conf. Am. 1.97)

6 conceal

7 nothing; MS. noth

8 frequent

1 bless ; cf. 148 4

2 aunt ; MS. mome (see

with sone, ' soon,’ in

9 lead ; MS. lydy
M Cf. 148 17-18
n MS. dedh

12 MS. ledh

13 MS. ay

14 white ; MS. with
is beautiful

16 on, in
1" MS. haw
is MS. syen
19 she ; MS. yo

20 is named

21 whom

22 gracious

23 opt.

24 they (one) sent
28 MS. vyt-

26 Cf. 149 1-2

27 messenger

28 at one ; cf. 150 8

29 property

30 richer

480

PLAYS

So help me Crist — and 1 Hy may spede,

Riche 2 saltu haf pi mede ! 8

Mone 4 Ellwis. A, son, wat 6 saystu ? Benedicite 6 !
Lift hup ju hand, and blis ]>e !

For it es boyt7 syn and scam[e]
pat jm on me hafs layt thys blam[e] ;

For Hie am an aid 8 quyne9 and a lam[e],10
Y led my lyf wit Godis gram[e] 11 ;

Wit my roc 12 Y me fede ;

Can I do non othir dede

Bot my Pater Noster and my Crede 18

(To say Crist for missedede),

And myn Avy Mary

(For my synnes 14 Hie am sory),

And my De Profundis
(For al that yn sin lys) ;

For can I me non o]dr jiing,15
pat wot Crist, of hevene Kyng.16
Jesu Crist, of hevene hey,

Gef17 that \ay may heng hey,

And gef \at Hy may se
pat Jiay be heng on a tre
pat pis ley as leyit 18 me onne,19
For aly 20 wyman am I on.21 . . .

2 richly

3 Cf. 149 5

4 MS. mome
6 MS. vat

6 Pron. bencitee ; cf. 149 7

7 both

8 old

9 quean

10 Cf. 149 10-13

15 MS. J>ink

16 MS. kync
1’ grant

18 lie have lied
10 MS. onne me

20 holy; cf. 149 19

21 one

11 anger ; MS. love (em. sug¬
gested by H. ; cf. grome,
149 ll)

12 distaff
18 Cf. 149 21-23
14 MS. scynnes

THE CHESTER NOAH’S FLOOD

481

THE CHESTER NOAH’S FLOOD

Even as early as the fourth century, Greek Christian preachers introduced
dramatic dialogue into their sermons, no doubt under the influence of the
dramatic tradition which had been perpetuated from the classic age ; and they
were imitated by certain of the Latin Fathers. Such dialogue is found, again,
in the Christ of the Old English poet, Cynewulf. Thus, before the ritual of the
Church developed into the beginnings of the miracle-play, the dramatic
element in Scriptural narrative had been accentuated in both the East and the
West (Cook, ' A Remote Analogue to the Miracle Play,’ in Jour. Eng. and Germ.
Phil. 4 (1903). 421-51 ; cf. 5. 62-4).

In the tenth century, the Concordia Regularis of St. Afthelwold (A.D. 965-
97 5), in the ceremony for the third nocturn at matins on Easter morning, directs
three brethren to represent the women who go to the sepulchre, and one the
angel seated at the door of the tomb. As they approach, the angel says : Quem
quceritis in sepulchro , O Christicolce ? To which the three reply : Jesum Nazare-
num crucijixum. And he answers : Non est hie ; surrexit, sicut preedixerat. He,
nuntiaie quia sicrrexit a morttiis, etc. (Chambers, Mediceval Stage 2. 308 ; cf.
Gayley, Plays of Our Forefathers, pp. 17-8).

The rise and progress of the miracle-play are well sketched by Jusserand
(Lit. Hist. Eng. People 1. 456 ff.) :

' The imitation of any action is a step towards drama. Conventional, litur¬
gical, ritualistic as the imitation was, still there was an imitation in the cere¬
mony of mass ; and mass led to the religious drama, which was therefore, at
starting, as conventional, liturgical, and ritualistic as could be. Its early
beginning is to be sought for in the antiphoned parts of the service, and then
it makes one with the service itself. ... A great step was made when, at the
principal feasts of the year, Easter and Christmas, the chanters, instead of
giving their responses from their stalls, moved in the Church to recall the
action commemorated on that day ; additions were introduced into the received
text of the service ; religious drama begins then to have an existence of its
own. "Tell us, shepherds, whom do you seek in this stable?” — They will
answer: " Christ the Saviour, our Lord.” Such is the starting-point; it dates
from the tenth century ; from this is derived the play of Shepherds, of which
many versions have come down to us. . . .

' Verse replaced prose ; the vulgar idiom replaced Latin; open air and the
public square replaced the church nave and its subdued light. It was no longer
necessary to have recourse to priests wearing a dalmatic in order to represent
midwives ; the feminine parts were performed by young boys dressed as
women. . . .

' The religious drama was on the way to lose its purely liturgical character
when the conquest of England had taken place. Under the reign of the
Norman and Angevin kings, the taste for dramatic performances increased
considerably; within the first century after Hastings we find them numerous

PLAYS

482

and largely attended. The oldest representation the memory of which has
come down to us took place at the beginning of the twelfth century. ... A
little later in the same century, Fitzstephen, who wrote under Henry II,
mentions as a common occurrence the " representations of miracles ” held in
London. In the following century, under Henry III, some were written in the
English language. During the fourteenth century, in the time of Chaucer,
mysteries were at the height of their popularity. . . .

' In a more or less complete state, the collections of the Mysteries performed
at Chester, Coventry, Woodkirk, and York have been preserved, without speak¬
ing of fragments of other series. Most of those texts belong to the fourteenth cen¬
tury, but have been retouched at a later date. Old Mysteries did not escape the
hand of the improvers, any more than old churches, where any one who pleased
added paintings, porches, and tracery, according to the fashion of the day. . . .

' Once emerged from the Church, the drama had the whole town in which
to display itself ; and it filled the whole town. On these days the city belonged
to dramatic art ; each company had its cars or scaffolds, pageants (placed on
wheels in some towns), each car being meant to represent one of the places
where the events in the play happened. The complete series of scenes was
exhibited at the main crossings, or on the principal squares or open spaces in
the town. . . .

' While in the theatre of Bacchus the tragedies of Sophocles were played
once and no more, the Christian drama, remodeled from century to century,
was represented for four hundred years before immense multitudes ; and this
is a unique phenomenon in the history of literature.’

According to Gayley {op. cit., pp. 132-3 ; cf. pp. 128-31) the Chester cycle,
at least in part, was in existence in the first third of the fourteenth century,
and its present form probably represents a revision made not far from 1400
(see also Ten Brink, English Literature 2.J274 ; Hemingway, English Nativity
Plays , pp. xix-xxi ; Pollard, English Miracle Plays , p. xxxvi ; Cook, in Nation
of May 27, 1915, p. 599). The manuscripts, five in number, are, however, much
later (1591-1604).

Pollard thus characterizes these plays (p. xxxvii) : ' There is less in the
Chester plays to jar on modern feelings than in any other of the cycles. The
humor is kept more within bounds, the religious tone is far higher.’ Of
the Noah's Flood , Gayley says (p. 151) : 'The characters are distinct and con¬
sistently developed. The comic episodes are natural and justifiable, for they
serve to display, not to distort, character, and they grow out of the dramatic
action. They are, moreover, varied, and, to some extent, cumulative.’ Chaucer
thus alludes to the stubbornness of Noah’s wife {Miller's Tale 352-7) :

' Hastow nat herd,’ quod Nicholas, ' also
The sorwe of Noe with his felawshipe,

Er that he mighte gete his wyf to shipe ?

Him had be lever, I dar wel undertake,

At thilke tyme, than alle hise wetheres blake,

That she hadde had a ship hirself allone.

THE CHESTER NOAH’S FLOOD

483

Our text is based upon MS. Harl. 2124 (II.), as printed by Deimling
(E.E.T.S. Ex. Ser. 62.4S-63), with certain stage-directions and variants from
MS. Bodley 175 (B.), as contained in Deimling’s edition, and from MS. Brit.
Mus. Add. 10,305 (W.), as printed by Thomas Wright in 1843. For the Latin
names of the characters, Noe, etc., I have substituted the corresponding
English ones.

There is a duplication of the dumb show of making the ark, of the command
to take the beasts by sevens, and of the comic episode of Noah’s wife; this
looks as though two drafts had been rather clumsily patched together.

There are emendations by Kolbing in Engl. Stud. 16. 280; 21. 163.

CHARACTERS OF THE PLAY

God

Noah

Shem

Ham

Japheth

Noah’s Wife
Shem’s Wife
Ham’s Wife
Japheth’s Wife

First , in some heigh place or in the cloudes, yf it
may be, God speaketh unto Noe, standing
without the arke, with all his family : 1
God. I, God, that all the world have wrought,

Heaven and earth, and all of nought,

I see my people, in deede and thought,

Are sett[e] fowle in sinne.

My Ghost shall not lenge 2 in mon 3 — 5

That through fleshlie liking is my fone 4 —

But 5 till vi skore yeares be gone,

To loke if they will blynne.6

Manne that I made I will destroy,

Beast, worme, and fowle to flie, 10

For on earthe they doe me n[o]ye7 —

The folke that are theron ;

1 From B. ; the correspond- 3 MS. man ; W. mone 5 except

ing Latin is in H. 4 foes (plural, because man is 6 cease ; see Gen. 6. 3, 5

2 remain (Vulg . fermanebit) used collectively) ^ cause me annoyance

484

PLAYS

Hit harmes me so hartfullie 1 —

The malyce that now 2 can 8 multeply —
That sore it greveth me inwardlie
That ever I made mon.4

5 Therfore, Noe, my servant free,

That righteous man art, as I see,

A shipp sone thou shalt make the,

Of trees drye and lighte ;

Little chambers therein thou make,
io And bynding slich 5 also thou take ;

Within and out thou ne slake 0

To noynte 7 it through thy 8 mighte.9

300 cubytes it shall be long,

And 50 of breadth,10 to mak it stronge ;

15 Of heighte 30 11 ; the mete12 thou fonge,18

Thus measure it about.

One wyndow worch, through thy wytte ;

One cubyte of length and breadth 10 make it.
Upon the side a dore shall sit,

20 For to come in and out.14

Eating-places thou make also ;

Three-roofed chambers one or two ;

For with water I thinke to slowe 15
Man that I can make ;

25 Destroyed all the world shal be

Save thou, thy wife, thy sonnes three,

And all there wives also with thee

Shall saved be for thy sake.16

1 at the heart

2 MS. now that
8 doth

4 MS. manne ;

5 pitch

6 fail

see Gen. 6. 6

7 MS. anoynte

8 MS. all thy

9 Gen. 6. 14

10 MS. breadeth
n MS. 50

12 measure

18 take

14 Gen. 6. 16

15 slay

ls Gen. 6. 16-18

THE CHESTER NOAH’S FLOOD

485

1 destroy

2 offend

3 to me

Noah. Ah Lord, I thanke the lowd and still,

That to me art in such will,

And spares me and my house to spill,1
As now 1 sothlie fynde.

Thy bydding, Lord, I shall fulfill, 5

And never more the greeve ne grill,2
That suche grace has sent me till 3
Among all mankinde.

Have done, yow men and women all ;

Helpe, for ought that may befall, 10

To worke this shipp, chamber and hall,

As God hath bydden us doe.

Shem. Fader,4 I am already bowne5;

Anne axe I have, by my crowne 6 1

As sharpe as any in all this towne, 15

For to goe thereto.

Ham. I have a hatchet wonder kene,

To byte well, as may be seene ;

A better grownden, as I weene,

Is not in all this towne. 20

Japheth. And I can well make a pyn,

And with this hammer knock yt in ;

Goe and worche without more dynne ;

And I am ready bowne.

Noah's Wife. And we shall bring tymber to, 25

For wee nothing els mon 7 doe ;

Women be weake to underfoe
Any great travayle.

Shem' s Wife. Here is a good hackstock8;

On this yow maye hew and knock ; 30

4 MS. father 7 may ; MS. mon nothing els

6 prepared 8 chopping-block

6 head

486

PLAYS

Shall non be idle in this flock,

Ne now may no man fayle.

Ham's Wife. And I will goe to gather sliche,

The ship for to caulke 1 and piche ;

Anoynt 2 yt must be every stich —

Board, tree, and pyn.

Japheth's Wife. And I will gather chippes here,

To make a fire for yow in feere,3
And for to dight[e] 4 your dynner,

Against [that] yow come in.5

Then Noye begineth to builde the arcke ; and

speaketh Noye : 6

Noah. Now, in Gods name,7 I will begin
To make the shippe that we shall in,8
That we be ready for to swym

At the cominge of the flood.

These hordes I joyne here togeder,9
To kepe us safe from the wedder,

That we may row both hider 10 and thider,

And safe be from this floode.

Of this tree will I make the mast,

Tyde with cables 11 that will last,

With a sayleyarde for each blast,

And each thinge in ther kinde ;

With topcastle and bowspreet,12

With coardes and ropes, I have all meete

To sayle forth at the next weete 13 ;

This shipp is at an ende.14

1 MS. cleane (em. W.)

2 MS.anoynted; em. sug¬

gested by Deimling
8 all (lit. in company)

4 make ready

6 MS. adds : Tunc faciunt
signa quasi laborarent
cum diversis instru-
mentis

6 From W.

t MS. the name of God

8 inhabit

9 MS. -gether

10 MS. hither

11 MS. gables ; \V. cabbelles

l'2 MS.bewsprytt; cf. OE. spreot

18 wet, rain

14 MS. adds: Tunc Noe iterum,
cum tota familia, faciunt
signa laborandi cum di¬
versis instrumentis

THE CHESTER NOAH’S FLOOD

487

Wife, in this castle we shall be kepte 1 ;

My childer and thou I wold 2 in lepte.8
Noah's Wife. In faith, 1 4 had as lief thou slepte,6
For all thy Frankish 6 fare7 ;

I will not doe after thy red[e].8

Noah. Good wife, doe now as I the bede 9 !

Noah's Wife. By Christ, not or10 I see more neede,
Though thou stand all day 11 and stare !

Noah. Lord, that women be crabbed aye,

And never are meke, that dare I saye !

This is wel sene by me to-daye,

In witnes of yow each one.

Good wife, let be all this beere 12
That thou makes in this place here ;

For all they wene thou art master —

So art thou,18 by St. John !

Then Noye with ail his familie shall make a sig?ie
as though the\_ y] wroughte upon the shippe with
diveres instrumentes, and after that God shall
speake to Noye, sayinge 14 .•

God. Noe, [now] take thou thy meanye,13
And in the shippe hye 10 that thow 17 be,

For none so righteous man to me
Is now on earth lyvinge.

Of cleane beastes with thee thou take
Seaven and seaven or thou slake 18 ;

Hee and shee, make 19 to make,

Belyve 20 in that 21 thou bringe.22

by Deiraling

5 MS. sleppit ; W. slepte

6 French

children, etc.)

3 MS. leaped ; W. lepte

4 MS. Noe I ; em. suggested

1 MS. keped ; VV. kepte

2 would (I would that my

9 MS. bydd ; cf. OE. beodan

10 before, till

u MS. the day; W. day

12 clamor

13 MS. and so thou art

14 From W. ; cf. note 2 on p. 489

7 behavior (?)
3 counsel

I5 company
1® hasten

17 MS. yow

18 stop

19 mate

20 at once

21 see that

22 Gen. 7. 1

488

PLAYS

Of beastes uncleane two and two,

Male and female, without moe 1 ;

Of cleane fowles seaven alsoe,

The hee and shee togeder 2 ;

Of fowles uncleane two,8 and no more,

As I of beastes said before,

That shal be saved throughe my lore,

Against I send the weder.4

Of all meates that must be eaten
Into the ship loke there be getten,

For that no way may be forgeten 3 ;

And doe all this bydeene,6
To sustayne man and beast therein
Aye till the water cease and blyn 7 ;

This world is filled full of synne,

And that is now well sene.

Seaven dayes be yet coming —

You shall have space them in to bringe;

After that is my lyking 8

Mankinde for to n[o]ye ;

40 dayes and 40 nightes
Rayne shall fall for ther unrightes,9
And that I have made through my mightes
Now think I to destroyed0

Noah. Lord, to thy 11 byddinge I am bayne 12 ;
Seinge 13 non other grace will gayne,

Hit will I fulfill fayne,

For gratious I thee fynde.

1 more

6 straightway

7 stop; see Gen. 6.21

11 MS. at your (em. W,

12 willing

13 MS. sith (em. \V.)

2 MS. -gether
8 But cf. Gen. 7. 3

4 MS. wedder

5 MS. -yeten ; W. -getten

8 purpose

9 iniquities

10 Gen. 7. 4

THE CHESTER NOAH’S FLOOD

489

A 100 wynters and 20

This shipp making taried have I,

If through amendment any mercye
Wolde fall unto mankinde.

Have done, you men and women all ;

Hye you lest this water fall —

That 1 each beast were in his stall,

And into the ship broughte.

Of cleane beastes seaven shal be,

Of uncleane two — this God bade me ;

This floode is nye, well may we see,

Therfore tary you noughte.

Then Noye shall goe into the arke with all his
family , his wief except , and the arke must
be horded rounde about , and one the hordes
all the beastes and fowles hereafter receaved
must be painted , that thes wordes may agree
with the pictures ,2

Shem. Syr, here are lyons, libardes in,

Horses, mares, oxen, and swyne,

Geates, calves, sheepe, and kine,

Here sitten thou may see.

Ham. Camels, asses, men may finde,

Bucke [and] doe, harte and hynde ;

And beastes of all manner kinde
Here bene, as thinkes mee.

fapheth. Take here cattes, dogges 8 to,

Otter, fox, fulmart 4 also ;

(hasten) that

From B. ; the Latin (from
H.) runs: Tunc Noe in-
troibit archam, et familia
sua dabit et recitabit omnia
animalia depicta in cartis,

et, postquam unus quisque
suam locutus est partem,
ibit in archam, uxore Noe
excepta, et animalia de¬
picta cum verbis concor-

dare debent ; et sic inci-
piet primus filius

3 MS. cattes and doggs;

W. cattes, dogges

4 polecat

490

PLAYS

Hares, hopping, gaylie can goe —

Have cowle 1 here for to eate.

Noah's Wife. And here are beares, wolfes, sett,
Apes, owles, marmoset,2 *
5 Weesells, squirrels, and firret 8 ;

Here they eaten their meate.

Shem’s Wife. Yet more beastes are in this howse :
Here cattis maken it full crowse 4 5 ;

Here a ratten,8 here a mowse,
io They stand nye togeder.6

Ham's Wife. And here are fowles les and more :
Heames,7 cranes, and byttour,8
Swans, peacockes ; and them before
Meate for this wedder.

15 Japheth's Wife. Here are cockes, kites, crowes,

Rookes, ravens — many rowes 9 —

Cuckoes, curlewes — - whoever knowes —

Eache one in his kinde ;

And here are doves, diggs,10 drakes,

20 Redshankes runninge through the lakes ;

And each fowle that ledden 11 makes
In this shipp men may finde.

Noah. Wife, come in ! Why standes thou here ?
Thou art ever froward — that dare I sweare !

25 Come in, on God’s half 12 ! Tyme yt were,

For feare lest that we drowne.

1 cabbage

2 monkey

8 ferret

4 lively

5 rat (cf. Fr. raton ) ; MS. rotten

6 MS. -gether

7 herons

8 bittern

9 rows
1° ducks

11 language (cf. Chaucer,

Squire's Tale 435,
478)

12 for God’s sake

THE CHESTER NOAH’S FLOOD

491

Noah's Wife. Yea, sir, set up your sayle,

And rowe forth with evill hayle,1

For, without[en] 2 any fayle, ’

I will not out of this towne.

But 3 I have my gossips everichon,

One foote further I will not gone ;

They shall not drowne, by St. John,

And 4 I may save their lyfe !

They loved me full well, by Christ !

But 3 thou wilt let them in thy chist,5
Rowe6 forth, Noe, whether7 thou list,

And get thee a new wife.

Noah. Sem, sonne, loe thy mother is wrow 8 ;
Forsooth such another I do not know.

Shem. Father, I shall fett her in, I trow,
Without[en] any fayle. —

Mother, my father after thee send,

And bydds the into yonder ship wend ;

Loke up, and se the wynde,

For we be ready e to sayle.

Noah's Wife. Sonne, goe again to him, and say
I will not come therein to-daye.

Noah. Come in, wife, in 20 devills waye 1
Or els stand there without.

Ham. [Father], shall wee all fet her in ?

Noah. Yea, sonnes, in Christ’s blessinge and myne 1
I would yow hyde 9 yow betyme,

For of this flood I doubte.10

1 success ; H. heale

2 em. from W.

3 unless

4if

5 ark

6 MS. els rowe
r whither

8 angry ; MS. wraw (em.

from W.)

9 hied

10 MS. am in doubte

492

PLAYS

[. Noah’s Wife.] The flood comes in full fleetinge fast,1
On every side it spredeth full ferre 2 ;

For feare of drowning I am agast ;

Good gossip, let us draw neare,

5 And let us drinke or we depart,

For oftentymes we have done soe ;

At 3 a draught thou drinkes a quarte,

And so will I doe or I goe.4 *

Japheth. Mother, we praye you altogeder 0 —
io For we are here your owne childer —

Come into the ship, for feare of the wedder,

For his love that you boughte 6 !

Noah's Wife. That will I not, for all your call,

But 7 I have my gossopes all.

15 Shem. In feith, mother, yet you shall,

Whether you will or not.8 [ She enters.

Noah. Welcome, wife, into this boate !

Noah's Wife. And have thou that for thy note 9 !

[ Gives him a box on the ear ,10
Noah. A, ha ! Mary,11 this is hote !

20 It is good to be still !

A, children, me thinkes my boate remeves,12
Our tarying here hugelie me greves ;

Over the lande the water spredes ;

God doe as he will !

25 Ah, great God that art so good,

That 13 worchis not thie will is wood !
Now all this world is on a flood,

As I see well in sighte.

1 This stanza is noted by

Hohlfeld as a later addi¬
tion ( Anglia n. 270)

2 MS. fare (em. K.)

3 MS. for at (em. K.)

4 B., W. add:

Here is a pottell of Malmesy

good and stronge ;

1 1 will rejoy[c]e both hart and
tong;

Though Noy thinke us never
so long,

Yet wee will drinke alyke.

5 MS. -gether

6 redeemed

7 unless

8 H. adds : Tunc ibit

9 pains (lit. benefit) ; MS.

mote ; em. from W.

10 For the Latin (H.) : Et

dat alapam vita

11 marry

12 moves

18 that which, he who

THE CHESTER NOAH'S FLOOD

493

This window I will shut anon,

And into my chamber will I gone,

Till this water, so greate one,

Be slaked 1 2 throughe thy mighte.

Then shall Noye shutte the wyndowe of they
arcke , and for a littill space be silent , and
afterwarde lokinge rou?ide aboute shall saye 1 :
Now 40 dayes are fullie gone, 5

Send a raven I will anone,

If oughtwhere 3 earth, tree, or stone,

Be drye in any place ;

And if this foule come not againe,

It is a signe, soth to sayne, 10

That drye it is on hill or playne,4 *

And God hath done some grace.

Then he shall send forth the raven , and , taking
a dove in his hand , shall say 6 .*
Ah, Lord 1 wherever this raven be,

Somewhere is drye, well I see,

But yet a dove — by my lewtye 6 1 — • 15

After I will sende.

Thou wilt turne againe to me,

For of all fowles that may flye,7

Thou art most meke and hend.8

Then he shall send forth the dove , and there shall
be i?i the ark another dove, which shall be let

1 abated

2 From W. ; the Latin (H.)

runs: Tunc Noe claudet

fenestram archae, et per

modicum spatium infra

tectum cantent psalmum

' Save mee, O God ’ [prob¬

ably Ps. 69], et aperiens
fenestram et respiciens

8 anywhere ; perhaps for
oughwhere, variant of
owhere •

4 Gen. 8. 6, 7

5 Translated from H. : Tunc

dimittet corvum, et, ca-
piens columbam in ma-
nibus, dicat

6 loyalty, faith

7 Here a line seems to have

dropped out

8 gentle ; cf. Gen. 8. 8

494

PLAYS

down from the mast by a cord vito the hands
of Noah ; and afterward Noah shall say1:
Ah, Lord 1 blessed be thou aye,

That hast me comfort2 thus to-day
By this sight ; I may well saye,

This flood beginnes to cease ;

5 My sweete dove to me brought hase

A branch of olyve from some place ;

This betokeneth God has done us grace,8
And is a signe of peace.4

Ah, Lord, honoured most thou be 1
io All earthe dryes, now I see,

But yet tyll thou comaunde me
Hence will I not hye.

All this water is awaye ;

Therfore, as sone as I maye,

15 Sacryfice I shall doe, in faye,5

To thee devoutlye.6

God. Noe, take thy wife anone,

And thy children every one ;

Out of the shippe thou shalt gone,

20 And they all with thee ;

Beastes, and all that can flie,

Out anone they shall hye,

On earth to grow and multeplye ;

I will that yt soe be.7

25 Noah. Lord, 1 thanke the through thy mighte;

Thy bidding shall be done in height,8

1 Translated from H.: Tunc
emittet columbam, et erit
in nave alia columba, fe-
rens olivam in ore, quae
demittetur [MS. quam de-
mittet] ex malo per funem

in manus Noe; et postea
dicat Noe

2 comforted

3 MS. some grace

4 Gen. 8. 11

6 faith

3 Gen. 8. 20

7 MS. be soe (em. K.);

cf. Gen. 8. 16, 17

8 with speed

THE CHESTER NOAH’S FLOOD

495

And, as fast as I may dighte,1
I will doe the honoure,

And to thee offer sacrifice ;

Therfore comes,2 in all wise,

For of these beastes that bene hise
Offer I will this stower.3 * *
Then , going out from the ark zmth his whole

family , he shall take with him his a?iimals
and birds , and shall offer them a?id slay}

Lord God in majestye,

Thou 6 such grace hast graunted me,
Where all was lome, save 6 to be ;

Therfore now I am bowne,

My wife, my childer, my meanye,7
With sacrifice to honoure thee ;

With beastes, fowles, as thou may see,

I offer here right sone.8

God. Noe, to me thou arte full able,9
And thy sacrifice acceptable ;

For I have fownd thee trew and stable,
On the now must I myn 10 :
Warry 11 earth will I no more
For mans synne that greves me sore,
For, of 12 youth, man full yore

Has byn enclyned to syn[n]e.13

You shall now grow and multeply,

And earth, againe, you edefie 14 ;

Each beast, and fowle that may flie,
Shall be afrayd of you ;

1 Translated from H. : Tunc

egrediens archam cum

tota familia sua, accipiet

1 make ready

2 imp. plur.

3 store

6 MS. that

6 safe

7 nom.

s Cf. Gen. 8. 20

animalia sua et volucres,
et offeret ea et mactabit

9 pleasing, compliant
1° be mindful
U curse
1‘2 from
18 Gen. 8. 21
11 build up

496

PLAYS

And fishe in sea, that may flete,1
Shall susteyne yow, 1 yow behete 2 ;

To eate of them yow ne lete 8

That cleane bene you may knowe.4

5 Thereas 5 you have eaten before

Grasse and rootes sith you were bore,

Of cleane beastes now, les and more,

I geve you leave to eate ;

Safe 6 bloode and flesh, bothe in feare,7
io Of 8 wrong-dead carren 9 that is here ;

Eates not of that in no manere,

For that aye you shall let[e].10

Manslaughter also you shall flee,

For that is not pleasant to me ;

15 That11 shedes bloode, he or shee,

Oughtwhere amongst mankinne,12
That blood foule sheede shal be,

And venge[a]nce have, that men shall se ;
Therfore beware now all[e] yee,

20 You fall not in that synne.13

A forwarde 14 now with thee 15 I make,

And all thy seede for thy sake,

Of suche vengeance for to slake,

For now I have my will.

25 Here I behet the a heaste 16 —

That man [ne] woman, fowle ne beaste,

With water, while the world shall l[e]ast[e],17
I will [them] no more spill.18

1 float, swim ; MS. flytte

2 promise ; MS. -hite

8 refrain, forbear; MS. lett
4 that you may know to be clean;

Gen. 9. 1-3 ; cf. 7. 2 ; 8. 20
6 whereas
6 save

7 together; Gen. 9. 4

8 Miswritten for ' or ’ ?

9 carrion ; see Lev. 22. 8

1° leave

U whoever

12 MS. -kinde ; em. sug¬

gested by Pollard

13 Gen. 9. 5, 6

14 covenant

15 MS. thie

16 promise

17 em. K.

18 destroy ; Gen. 9. 9-1 1

THE CHESTER NOAH’S FLOOD

497

My bowe betwene you and me
In the firmament shall bee,

By verey token, that you may see

That such vengeance shall cease ;
That man ne woman shall never more
Be wasted by water, as was 1 before 2 3 ;
But for syn, that greveth me sore,

Therfore this vengeance wes.8

Where cloudes in the welkin bene,

That ilke bowe shall be sene,

In tokeninge that my wrath and tene
Shall never thus 4 wroken be ;
The stringe is turned toward you,

And toward me is bent the bowe,

That such wedder shall never showe ;
And this behett I thee.5

My blessing now I geve the here,

To thee, Noe, my servant dere,

For vengeance shall no more appeare ;
And now farewell, my darling deere.6

THE BROME PLAY OF ABRAHAM AND ISAAC

Lucy Toulmin Smith, the first editor (in 1884) thus characterizes the play,
in comparison with the five others on the same subject ( Anglia 7. 332) : 'On
the whole, the Brome version now printed is superior to those above described
in the touches of child-nature, and in the play of feeling skilfully shown — the
dear coquetting between the love of his child and the committal of the deed
by the obedient but agonized father. The child begging his father not to kill
him, and his fear of the sword even after all danger is over, . . . are touched
in with a life not found elsewhere. The thought of the mother . . . breaks out
in the most natural and affecting manner, . . . and the joyful rebound of emo¬
tion after the painful strain between duty and affection, expressing itself in
the kisses of Abraham and the apostrophes of Isaac to the " gentle sheep,”

1 MS. is 4 MS. this 6 w. adds :

2 Gen. 9. 12—15 ° Gen. 9. 16 Finis . Deo gracias ! per me, George Beilin , I5q2.

3 MS. was (em. K.) Come, JLorde J esu, come quick lye.

498

PLAYS

must have warmly appealed to the hearts of the audience. Finally, the lesson
of faith for " learned and lewed ” and " the wisest of us all ” is taught by the
" Doctor” in the simplest manner.’

Gayley thinks this the third miracle-play in order of time, the first being
The Harrowing of Hell (ca. 1250), and the second, Jacob and Esau (ca. 1280).
He says ( Plays of our Forefathers, p. 126) : ' The Brome play of Abraham and
Isaac, which comes next in order of production, is undoubtedly the basis of
The Sacrifice of Isaac in the Chester cycle, and probably in an earlier version
dates from the beginning of the fourteenth century.’ A particularly close paral¬
lel is that between 506 3-6 and the Chester play 289-92 (ed. Deimling, p. 76):

If I have trespassed in any degree,

With a yard you maye beate me ;

Put up your sword, if your will be,

For I am but a childe.

The play has been three times printed — by Miss Smith as above (A.), by
Lady Kerrison and Miss Smith in 1886 (B.), and by Manly in 1897 (M.) ;
Pollard has reproduced lines 316-435 ( English Miracle Plays, Appendix IV),
following Miss Smith.

The unique manuscript ( 1 470-1480) takes its name from the village of Brome,
in Suffolk, two miles north of Eye. Brome was from the fourteenth century the
seat of the Cornwallis family, to which belonged the Lord Cornwallis who
was conspicuous in the American Revolution.

The two editions directly from the manuscript differ here and there in their
readings; of the readings I have rejected I have taken no account. Important
emendations have been made by Miss Smith, Holthausen ( Anglia 13 (1891).
361-2), and Manly (Spec. Pre-Shak. Drama 1. 41-57). I have been tempted to
further efforts at restoration by the remark of Miss Smith ( Anglia 7. 322-3) :
'Judging by the analogy of other plays of the kind, it is probable that this also
was originally composed with much care for its poetical form, but has become
partially corrupt through oral repetition and the errors of copyists.’ All the
emendations not attributed to S., H., or M. are by myself ; some are perhaps
rather daring, but it is easy to revert to the manuscript-readings. Stage-
directions (following a bracket) have been supplied partly from S. and M. ;
two or three are found in the manuscript, in Latin.

Miss Smith remarks (Anglia 7. 322) : ' With regard to the versification, the
reader will observe that it is irregular : in several places the lines run in clear
stanzas of five lines, riming abaab ; in others it appears to be in stanzas of eight
lines, riming alternately, with a frequent short line or tag following. There are
also many lines which seem to be formless as regards metre, rime, or stanza.’
Accordingly the indications of stanzaic form are often somewhat obscured in
this play.

I have modernized in the stage-directions the names of certain characters,
for the sake of consistency — Dens to God, The Angell to Angel, Ysaac to
Isaac.

THE EROME PLAY OF ABRAHAM AND ISAAC 499

SCENE I

A field near Abraham’s home i?i Beersheba
Enter Abraham and Isaac

Abraham. Fader of hevyn omnipotent,

With all my hart to the I call ;

Thow hast joffe 1 me both lond and rent,2 *

And my lyvelod thow hast me sent ;

I thanke the evermore 8 of all.

Fyrst off4 5 the erth ]>ou madyst Adam,

And Eve also to be hys wyffe ;

All other creatures of them too 6 cam ;

And now thow hast grant 6 to me, Abram,7
Her in thys lond to lede my lyffe.

In my age ]>ou hast grantyd me thys,

That thys jowng chyld with me shall wone 8 ;

I love nothyng so myche, iwysse,

Except ]>i9 selffe, der Fader of blysse,

As Ysaac her, my owyne swete sone.

I have dyverse chyld ryn moo,

The wych I love not halffe so wyll 10 ;

Thys fayer swet chyld he chereys 11 me soo

In every place wer that I goo,

That noo dessece 12 her may I fell.18

And therfor, Fadyr of hevyn, I prey 14
For hys helth, and also for hys grace ;

1 given 6 granted 1° well ; pronounced wail

2 income ' MS. Abraham 11 MS. scherys

8 MS. heyly euermore 8 dwell 12 discomfort

•i of ® MS. thin owyne ; see 13 feel

5 two next line 14 MS. the prey

500

PLAYS

Now, Lord, kepe hym both nyght 1 and day,

That never dessese nor noo [afjfray 2 *
Cume to my chyld in noo place.

Now cum on, Ysaac, my owyne swet chyld ;

Goo we hom, and take owr rest.

Isaac. Abraham, myne owyne fader so myld,

To folowe gow I am full prest,8
Bothe erly and late.

Abi'aham. Cume on, swete chyld, 1 love the best
Of all the chyldiyn that I 4 begat. [Exeunt.

SCENE II

Heaven. Enter God and an Angel

God. Myn angell, fast hey 5 the thy wey,

And to 6 medyll erth anon }>ou goo ;

Abra[ha]ms hart now wyll I asay,

Wether that he be stedfast or noo.

15 Sey I commaw[n]dyd hym for to take

Ysaac, hys sonne,7 pat he love[s] so wyll,

And with hys blood sacryfyce he make,

Ony 8 off my freynchepe [yf] he wyll fell.9

Schow hym the wey onto 10 the hylle
20 Wer that hys sacryffyce schall be.

I schall asay now hys good wyll,

Whether he lovyth 11 better hys chyld or me.

All men schall take exampyll be hym

My commawmentes how they schall kepe. [Exeunt.

1 MS. nygth 6 haste 8 MS. yffe ony

2 fright, terror 8 unto ; MS. on to 9 MS. ffell

8 ready; MS. glad (em. H.) 7 MS. jowng sonne, cf. 1° unto

4 MS. ever I 50 1 24 u MS. lovyd (em. M.)

THE BROME PLAY OF ABRAHAM AND ISAAC 501

SCENE III

Afield near Abraham’s home. Enter Abraham

Abraham. Now, Fader of hevyn, ]>at formyd all thyng,
My preyeres I make to the ageyn,

For thys day my tender offryng
Here must I geve to the, certeyn.

A ! Lord God, allmyty Kyng,

Wat maner best 1 woll make ]>e most fayn ?

Yff I had therof very knoyng,2 *

Yt schuld be don with all my mayne 8

Full sone by me.4
To don thy plesyng on an hyll,

Verely yt ys my wyll,

Dere Fader, God in Trinyte.

Enter Angel

Angel. Abraham, Abraham, wyll pou rest 1
Owr Lord comandyth J>e for to take
Ysaac, thy gowng sone, that thow lovyst best,

And with hys blod saciyfyce pat thow make.

Into the lond of v[i]syon 6 thow goo,

And offer thy chyld onto thy Lord ;

I schall the lede and schow allsoo.

Unto Goddes hest, Abraham, acord,

And folow me upon thys grene.

Abraham. Wollecom 6 to me be my Lordes sond,7
And hys hest I wyll not withstand ;

<^yt Ysaac, my gowng sonne in lond,

A full dere chyld to me hase 8 bene.9

1 beast

2 knowing, knowledge

8 might, strength (cf. ' might

4 MS. anone (em. H.)

5 Moriah (Gen. 22. 2) ; em. H.

6 welcome

7 messenger

8 MS. haue
» MS. byn

and main ’)

502

PLAYS

I had lever, yf God had be plesyd,

For to a 1 forbore 2 3 all f e good fat I have,
Than Ysaac my sone schuld a be desessyd,8
So God in hevyn my sowll mot save 1

5 I lovyd never thyng soo mych in erde,4 *

And now I must the chyld goo kyll.

A, Lord 6 ! my conseons ys stron[g]ly sterd,6
And gyt, my dere Lord, I am sore 7 aferd
To groche8 ony thyng9 agens thy wyll.

io I love my chyld as [I love] my lyffe,

But gyt I love my God myche more,

For thow my hart woold make ony stryffe,

^yt wyll I not spare for chyld nor wyffe,

But don after my Lordes lore.10

15 Thow I love my sonne never so wyll,

£yt smythe of11 hys hed sone I schall.

A, Fader of hevyn ! to the I knell ;

An hard dethe my son schall fell,

For to honor the, [my] Lord, withall.

20 Angel. Abraham ! Abraham ! thys ys wyll seyd,

And all thys comamentes loke fou obay 12 ;
But in thy hart be nothyng dysmayd.18

Abraham. Nay, nay, 1 14 hold me wyll apayd 15
To plesse 16 my God to the best 1 17 may,18

1 have

2 done without

3 disturbed, put to discom¬

fort, molested

4 MS. erthe (em. M., follow-

ing S.’s suggestion)

6 MS. Lord God

e stirred ; MS. steryd

7 MS. sere (em. H.)

8 MS. Jowr

9 make any complaint

10 instruction

11 smite off

12 MS. loke )>at j>ou kepe

(em. suggested by M.)

13 MS. dismasyd ; em. M.

14 MS. forsoth I

15 MS. plesyd (M. sug

gests em.)

16 MS. pelsse

17 MS. )>at I

18 MS. haue (M. sug

gests em.)

THE BROME PLAY OF ABRAHAM AND ISAAC 503

For thow my hart be hevely sett

To see the blood of my owyn dere sone,

^yt for all thys I wyll not lett,1 [Exit Angel.

But Ysaac, my son, I wyll goo fett,

And cum asse fast as ever we conne.2 [Exit.

SCENE IV

Abraham’s home. Enter Abraham and Isaac

[Abraham.] Now, Ysaac, my owyne son [so] dere,

Wer art thow, chyld ? Speke to me.

Isaac. My fayer swet fader, I am here,

And make my preyrys to )ie Trenyte.

Abraham. Rysse up, my chyld, and fast cum heder,

My gentyll barn 3 pat art so wysse,

For we to,4 chyld, must goo togeder,

And onto my Lord make sacryffyce.

Isaac. I am full redy, my fader, loo !

Evyn 5 at jowr handes I stand ryght 6 here,

And watsoever ge byd me doo,

Yt schall be don with glad cher,

Full wyll and fyne.

Abraham. A ! Ysaac, my owyn son soo dere,

Codes blyssyng I jyffe the, and myn.

Hold thys fagot upon }>i bake,

And her myselffe fyer schall bryng.

Isaac. Fader, all thys her wyll I packe ;

I am full fayn to do jowr bedyng.

desist
MS. can

s child
4 two

5 MS. Sevyn

6 MS. iygth

5o4

PLAYS

Abraham. A, Lord of hevyn ! my handes I wryng,
Thys chyldes wordes all towond 1 my harte.

Now, Ysaac son, goo we owr wey

Onto jon mownte, with all owr mayn.

Isaac. Go we, my dere fader, as fast as I may ;

To folow gow I am full fayn,

Allthow I be slendyr.

Abraham. A, Lord 1 my hart brekyth on tweyn,£
Thys chyldes wordes, they be so tender.

SCENE V

Mount Moriah. Enter Abraham and Isaac

A, Ysaac, son 1 anon ley yt down,

No lenger upon fi backe yt hold,3
For I must make redy bo[u]n 4

To honowr my Lord God as I schold.5

Isaac. Loo, my dere fader, wer yt ys !

To cher6 gow allwey I draw me ner;

But, fader, I mervell sore of thys,

Wy fat je make thys hevy chere ;

And also evermore 7 dred I :

Wer ys gowr best 8 fat je schuld kyll ?
Both fyer and wood we have redy,

But queke 9 best have we non on pis hyll ;

A qwyke best, I wot wyll, must be ded,
^owr sacryfyce for to make.10

2 MS. tewyn (em. S.)

8 MS. bere (em. M., following

1 wound

Kittredge’s suggestion)

4 prepared
6 MS. schuld
6 cheer

" MS. fader euermore

8 MS. queke best

9 living

10 MS. transposes this line

and the next (em. S.)

THE BROME PLAY OF ABRAHAM AND ISAAC 505

Abraham. Dred the nowyht,1 my chyld, I the red 2 ;

Owr Lord wyll send me onto thys sted 3
Summ maner a best for to take,

Throw hys swet sond.

Isaac. ^ a , fader, but my hart begynnyth to quake
To se ]>at scharpe sword in yowr hond.

Wy bere ye yowr sword drawyn soo ?

Off yowre contenauns 4 * I have mych wonder.

Abraham. A, Fader of hevyn, so 6 I am woo !

Thys chyld her brekys my harte onsonder.6

Isaac. Tell me, my dere fader, or that ye ses,7
Ber ye yowr sword draw[yn] 8 for me ?

Abraham. A, Ysaac, swet son, pes ! [a,] pes 1
For iwys thow breke[s] my harte on thre.

Isaac. Now trewly, sumwat, fader, ye thynke,9
That ye morne 10 thus [ay] more and more.

Abraham. A ! Lord of hevyn, thy grace let synke,

For my hart was never halffe so sore.

Isaac. I preye yow, fader, let 11 me ]>at wyt,12
Wyther schall I have ony harme or noo.

Abraham. Iwys, swet son, I may not tell the yyt,

My hart ys now soo full of woo.

Isaac. Dere fader, I prey,13 hyd yt 14 not fro me,

But sum of yowr thowt ye 15 tell me [anone],

1 not at all ; MS. -wyth 6 MS. on too (em. H.) 11 MS. J>at ge wyll let

2 counsel 7 cease 12 know

8 place 8 em. M. 18 MS. prey jow

4 countenance ; MS. conwnauns 9 ponder upon 74 MS. hydygth (em. M .)

8 MS. os (em. S.) 10 mourn 16 MS. )>at ge

506

PLAYS

Abraham. A, Ysaac, Ysaac, I must kyll the !

Isaac. Kyll me, fader ? alasse, wat have I done ?

Yff I have trespassyd agens gow owt,

^e may make me with a gard 1 full myld,

5 And with gowr scharp sword kyll me nowt,2 *

For iwys, fader, I am but a chyld.

Abraham. I am full sory 8 thy blood for to spyll,

But truly, my chyld, I may not chese.4

Isaac. Now I wold 5 my moder were on 6 ]>is 7 hyll !
io Sche woold knele for me on both hyr kneys

To save my lyffe.

And sythyn 8 my moder ys not here,

I prey gow, fader, chonge 9 gowr chere,

And kyll me not with gowyr knyffe.

!5 Abraham. Forsothe, son, but-gyf I the kyll,

I schuld greve God ryght 10 sore, I drede ;

Yt ys hys commawment and also hys wyll
That I schuld do thys same dede.

He commawdyd me, son, for serteyn,

20 To make my sacryfyce with thy blood.

Isaac. And ys yt Goddes wyll )>at I schuld be slayn ?

Abraham. <^a, truly, Ysaac, my son soo good,
And therfor my handes I wryng.

1 rod ; MS. with a Sard £e 4 choose

may make me 5 MS. wold to God

2 MS. nogth 6 MS. her on

s MS. sory son 1 A. ys, B. yis (em. M.)

8 MS. syt>yn (>at

9 change ; MS. schonge

10 MS. rygth

THE BROME PLAY OF ABRAHAM AND ISAAC 507

Isaac. Now, fader, agens my Lordes decre 1
I wyll never groche, lowd nor styll ;

He myght 2 a 3 sent me a better destyne 4
Yf yt had a be hys wyll.5

Abraham. Forsothe, son, but-yf I do 6 ]>is dede, 5

Grevosly dysplessyd owr Lord wyll be.

Isaac. Nay, nay, fader, God forbede
That ever ge schuld greve hym for me.

<^e have other chyldryn, on or too,

The wyche ge schuld love wyll be kynd.7 10

I prey gow, fader, make ge no woo,

For, be I onys ded and fro gow goo,

I schall be sone owt of gowr mynd.

Therfor doo owr Lordes byddyng,

And wan I am ded, than prey for me ; 1 5

But, good fader, tell ge my moder nothyng,

Say fat I am dwellyng 8 in another cuntre.9

Abraham. A, Ysaac,10 blessyd mot thow be !

My hart begynnyth 11 stron[g]ly to rysse,

To see the blood off thy blyssyd body. 20

Isaac. Fadyr, syn yt may be noo other wysse,12
Let yt passe over as wyll as I ;

But, or 18 I goo onto my deth,

I prey gow blysse me with gowr hond.14

1 MS. wyll (em. suggested by M.)

2 MS. mygth

3 have

4 MS. desteny

5 MS.plecer(em.suggestedby M.)

6 MS. ded

" by nature, naturally

8 MS. dewllyng (em. S.)

9 MS. in another cuntre

dewylling

1° MS. Ysaac, Ysaac
11 MS. begynnyd (em. M.)

42 wise

43 before ; MS. fader or
I4 MS. hand

508

PLAYS

Abraham. Now, Ysaac, [sone,] with all my breth,

My blyssyng I geve fe upon thys lond,

And Godes also therto, iwys.

Ysaac, Ysaac, sone, up thow stond,

5 Thy fayer swete mowthe fat I may kys.

Isaac. Now farwyll,1 my owyne fader so fyn,

And grete wyll my moder in erde.2
But I prey gow, fader, to hyd my eyne,

That I se not fe stroke of gowr scharpe swerd,8

io That my fleysse schall defyle.

Abraham. Sone, thy wordes make me to wepe full sore :
Now, my dere son Ysaac, speke no more.

Isaac. A, my owyne dere fader, werefore ?

We schall speke togedyr her but a wylle,4

1 5 And sythyn that I must nedys 5 be ded,

^yt, my dere fader, to gow I prey,

Smythe but fewe 6 strokes at my hed,

And make an end as sone as ge may,

And tery not to longe.

20 Abraham. Thy meke wordes, chyld, make me afray 7 ;

So ' Welawey ! ’ may be my songe,

Excepe al only Godes wyll.

A, Ysaac, my owyn swete chyld,

<^yt kysse me agen upon thys hyll !

25 In all thys war[l]d 8 ys non soo myld.

Isaac. Now truly, fader, all thys teryyng
Yt doth my hart but harme ;

I prey gow, fader, make an enddyng.

1 farewell ; MS. for- 4 while, short time

2 MS. erthe (em. M., following 6 needs ; MS. nedysse

S.’s suggestion) 6 MS. feve (em. M.)

8 MS. sword (em. M.)

" afraid ; MS. afrayed
(em. M.)

8 em. S.

THE BROME PLAY OF ABRAHAM AND ISAAC 509
Abraham. Cume up, swet son, onto my arme ;

I must bynd thy handes too,

Allthow thow be never soo myld.

Isaac. A, mercy, fader ! wy schuld je do soo ?

Abraham. That thow schuldyst not let,1 my chyld. 5

Isaac. Nay, iwysse, fader, I wyll not let gow ;

Do on for me gowr wyll,

And on the purpos that je have set jow
For Codes love kepe yt forthe styll.

I am full sory thys day to dey,2 10

But jyt I kepe 3 not my God to greve ;

Do on gowr lyst4 for me hard[e]ly,

My fayer swete fader, I geffe jow leve.

But, fader, I prey jow evermore,

Tell je my moder never a 6 dell 6 ; 15

Yffe sche wist7 yt, sche wold wepe full sore,

For iwysse, fader, sche lovyt[h] me wylle8;

Goddes blyssyng have mot sche 9 !

Now forwyll, my moder so swete,

We too be leke 10 no mor to mete. 20

Abraham. A, Ysaac, son 11 ! pou makyst me gret,12
And with thy wordes 18 dystempurst 14 me.

Isaac. Swete 15 fader, I am sory gow to greve 16 ;

I cry gow mercy of that I have donne,

And of all trespasse pat ever I ded meve 17 ;

Now, fader,18 forjyffe me pat I have donne.

God of hevyn be with me !

1 hinder

2 die

8 wish, desire

4 pleasure

5 MS. no

6 part of it

7 knew ; MS. wost

8 MS. full wylle

9 MS. mot sche have (em. H.)
ln are likely

H MS. Ysaac, Ysaac
12 lament, weep ; MS. to gret

18 MS. wordes thow

14 troublest

15 MS. iwysse swete

16 MS. to greve Sow

It cause ; MS. meve Sow
I8 MS. dere fader

5io

PLAYS

Abraham. A, dere chyld, lefe of 1 thy monys 1
In all thy lyffe thow grevyd me never onys;

Now blyssyd be thow, body and bonys 2 !

Thow hast be to me chyld full good.

5 But iwysse,8 thow I morne never so fast,

^yt must I nedes here at the last
In thys place sched 4 thy blood.

Therfor, my son,5 here schall Jjou lye.

Onto my warke I must me stede 6 ;
io 1 7 had as leve myselffe to dey,

Yff God wyll be plecyd wyth my dede,

And myn owyn body for to offer.

Isaac. A, mercy, fader, morne je no more,

,gowr wepyng make[th] 8 my hart [as] sore
15 As my owyn deth that I schall suffer.

^owr kerche[f] 9 abowt my eyn je wynd.

Abraham. So I schall, my swettest chyld in erde.10

Isaac. Now jyt, good fader, have thys in mynd,

And smyth me not oftyn with jowr scharp swerd,11

20 But hastely that yt be sped.12

Here Abraham leyd a cloth on Ysaaces face ,

thus seyyng :

Abraham. Now farewyll,18 my chyld, so full of grace.

Isaac. A, fader, fader, torne downward 14 my face,
For of jowr 18 swerd 16 I am ever adred.

1 leave off, cease

2 MS. bonys, That ever thow

were bred and born
8 MS. iwysse child

4 MS. sched all

5 MS. dere son

6 set myself 11 MS. sword (em. M.)

7 MS. iwysse I 12 done quickly

8 em. H. is MS. fore-

9 MS. kerche fader 44 MS. downgward

1° MS.erthe (em. M., following 15 MS. gowr scharpe

S.’s suggestion) 16 MS. sword

THE BROME PLAY OF ABRAHAM ANI) ISAAC

5 1 1

Abraham. To don thys dede I am full sory,

But, Lord, thyn hest I wyll not withstand.

Isaac. A, Fader of hevyn, to the I crye,

Lord, reseyve me into thy bond.1

Abraham. Loo, now ys cum the tyme 2 certeyn
That my swerd 3 in hys necke schall bite.4
A, Lord, my hart reysyth therageyn,6

I may not fynd 6 in my harte to smygth —

My hart wyll not now thertoo.

^yt fayn I woold warke my Lordes wyll ;

But thys jowng innosent lygth so styll,

I may not fynd 6 in my hart hym to kyll.

O, Fader of hevyn, what schall I doo ?

Isaac. A, mercy, fader, wy 7 tery je so,

And let me ley thus longe on pis hethe ?

Now I wold to God f>e stroke were doo 8 !

I prey jow,9 schorte me of 10 my woo,

And let me not loke thus after 11 my deth.12

Abraham. Now, hart, wy wilt thow not13 breke on thre ?

<^yt schall }>[o]u not make me to God 14 onmyld.18
I wyll no lenger let 16 for the,

For that my God agrevyd wold be ;

Now hoold 17 the 18 stroke, my owyn dere chyld.

Her Abraham drew hys stroke , and pe Angell toke
the swerd 8 in hys bond soddenly.
Angel. I am an angell, thow mayist se 19 blythe,

That fro hevyn to the ys sent.20

MS. hand

MS. the tyme cum

MS. sword

MS. synke (em. H.)

against this

MS. fyndygth ; M. fynd yt
why

8 done

9 MS. fader I prey Sow harte ly
1° shorten

n wait thus for
12 MS. degth
18 MS. wolddyst not thou
11 MS. my God

15 ungracious (lit. unmild)

16 tarry

n receive
is MS. tha

19 see

20 MS. senth

512

PLAYS

Owr Lord thanke[th] the an c sythe 1

For the kepyng of hys commaw[nde]ment.

He knowyt[h] Jn wyll and also thy harte,

That thow dredyst hym above all thyng ;

5 And sum of thy hevynes for to departe,2

A fayr ram jynder 8 I gan brynge ;

He standyth teyed, loo, among ]re breres.

Now, Abraham, amend thy mood,

For Ysaac, thy jowng son pat her ys,
io Thys day [thow] schall not sched hys blood ;

Goo, make thy sacryfece with gon rame.

Now farwyll,4 blyssyd Abraham,

For onto hevyn I goo now horn ;

The way ys full gayn 5 [to pace 6] ;

15 Take up thy son soo free. [ Exit.

Abraham. A, Lord, I thanke the of thy gret grace !

Now am I teyed 7 on dyvers wysse ;

Arysse up, Ysaac, my sunne,8 arysse ;

Arysse,9 swete chyld, and cum to me.

20 Isaac. A, mercy, fader ! wy smygth je nowt 10 ?

A, smygth on, fader, onys with gowr knyffe.

Abraham. Pesse, my swet son,11 and take no thowt,

For owr Lord of hevyn hath grant }>i lyffe

Be hys angell now, that J>ou schalt not dey.12

25 Isaac. A, fader, full glad than wer I,

1 a hundred times

2 banish
8 yonder

4 MS. for-

6 near, straight

6 pass ; em. H .

7 bound (to God); MS. yeyed

8 MS. dere sunne

9 MS. arysse up

10 MS. not yyt (em. H.)

11 MS. sir (em. M.)

12 MS. dey pis day sunne truly

THE BROME PLAY OF ABRAHAM AND ISAAC 513

Iwys, fader, I sey, iwys,

Y f thys tale wer trew !

Abraham. An hundryd tymys, my son fayer of hew,

For joy pi mowth now wyll I kys.

Isaac. A, my dere fader, Abraham,

Wyll not God be wroth pat we do thus ?

Abraham. Noo, noo ! swet 1 son, for jyn 2 * same rame
He hath sent hether down to us.8

,jyyn best schall dey here in pi sted,

In the worpschup 4 of owr Lord alon ;

Goo, fet5 hym hethyr, my chyld, inded.

Isaac. 1 6 wyll goo hent 7 hym be the hed,

And biyng jon best with me anon.

[Isaac catches the ravi.
A, scheppe, scheppe, blyssyd mot pou be
That ever thow were sent down heder 1
Thow schall thys day dey for me,

In the worchup of the holy Trynyte.

Now cum fast, and goo we togeder

To my fader in hy 8 ;

Thow pou be never so jentyll and good,

^yt had I lever thow schedyst pi blood,

Iwysse, scheppe, than I.

Loo ! fader, I have browt here full smerte9
Thys jentyll scheppe, and to 10 gow I jyffe ;

1 MS. swyt Hether down to us; 7 seize

2 yon em. suggested by M. 8 inhaste; MS. of heven

s MS. 4 MS. worpschup (em. S.) (em. sugg. by M.)

Noo, noo ! harly, my swyt son, ° fetch 9 promptly

For Jyn same rame he hath us sent 6 MS. Fader I 10 MS. hym to

PLAYS

Lord 1 God, I thanke pe with all my hart,

For I am glad that I schall leve,3

And kys onys my dere moder.

Abraham. Now be ryght 8 myry, my [owyne] swete chyld,
5 For thys qwyke best pat ys so myld

Here I present 4 before all other.

Isaac. And I wyll fast begynne to blowe ;

Thys fyer schall brene 5 a full good sped.6
But, fader, wyll 7 I stowppe downe lowe,

10 wyll not kyll me with jowr swerd,8 I trowe ?

Abraham. Noo, har[de]ly,9 swet son, have no dred,

My momyng 10 ys past.

Isaac. 1 11 woold pat swerd 8 wer in a gled,12
For18 yt make[th] 14 me full yll agast.

Here Abraham mad hys offryng, knelyng , and

seyyng thus :

15 Abraham. Now, Lord God of heven in Trynyte,

Allmyty God omnipotent,

My offeryng I make in the worchope of the,

And with thys qweke best I the present ;

Lord, reseyve thow myn intent,

20 As [thow] 13 art God, and grownd 16 of owr grace.

[ God speaks f7-om heaven.

God. Abraham, Abraham, wyll17 mot thow sped,18
And Ysaac, pi jowng son the by !

1 MS. but Lord

2 live

8 MS. rygth

4 MS. schall present

5 burn

6 speed; MS. spyd

7 while

8 MS. sword

9 certainly; em. M.

10 mourning

11 MS. Sa but I

12 fire (?) ; MS. glad (em. M.)

18 MS. for iwys fader
14 em. suggested by H.

45 em. M.

46 foundation, source

17 well

18 prosper

THE BROME PLAY OF ABRAHAM AND ISAAC 515

Truly, Abraham, for thys dede
I schall multyplye gowr bother 1 sede
As thyke as sterres be in the skye,

Bothe more and lesse ;

And as thyke as graved in the see,

So 2 multyplyed gowr sede schall be ;

Thys grant I gow for gowr goodnesse.

Off gow schall cume frowte gret [won],8
And ever be in blysse withowt[en] end.4
For ge drede me as God alon,

And kepe my commawmentes everych3 on,

My blyssyng I geffe, wersoever ge wend.6

Abraham. Loo, Ysaac, my son, how thynke ge
Be thys warke that we have wroght 7 ?

Full glad and blythe we may be,

Agens Gods wyll 8 pat we grucched nott

Upon thys fayer heth.9

Isaac. A, fader, I thanke owr Lord every dell
That my wyt servyd me so wyll

For to drede God more than my deth.10

Abraham. Why 1 dereworpy 11 son, wer thow adred ?
Hardely,12 chyld, tell me thy lore.18

Isaac, ^a, be my feyth, fader, now have 14 I red,15
I wos never soo afrayd before

As I have byn at gyn hyll.

But, be my feyth, fader, I swere
I wyll nevermore cume there
But yt be agens my wyll.

of you both; MS.gowresbotheres 6 MS. goo (em. H.)

MS. so thyke 7 MS. wrogth

plenty ; em. M. 8 MS. pe wyll of God

MS. 5ynd 9 MS. hetth

MS. everysch 10 MS. detth

n precious ; MS. -wordy
19 boldly, unhesitatingly
18 story, what is in thy mind
n MS. hath (em. M.)

15 my senses

5i6

PLAYS

Abraham. Cum 1 on with me, my owyn swet sonn,

And homward fast now let us goon.

Isaac. Be 2 my feyth, fader, therto I on,3
I had never so good wyll horn to gon,4
And to speke with my dere moder.

Abraham. A ! Lord of hevyn, I thanke the,

For now may I led horn with me
Ysaac, my jownge sonn so fre,

The gentyllest chyld above all other 0 —

Thys may I wyll avo[w to th]ee.6

Now goo we forthe, my blyssyd sonn.

Isaac. I grant, fader, and let us gon,

For, be my trowthe, wer I at home,

I wold never gon owt under that forme.7

I pray God jeffe us grace evermo,

And all tho 8 that we be holdyng 9 to. [Exeunt.

EPILOGUE

E?iter Doctor

Doctor. Lo, sovereyns and sorys,10 now have we schewyd 11
Thys solom story 12 to grete and smale ;

It ys good lernyng to lernd and lewyd 18
And )>e wysest of us all,

Wythowtyn ony berryng.14
For thys story schewyt[h] 16 jowe [her] 16

1 MS. ga cum

2 by

8 consent; MS. grant
4 MS. to gon hom
s MS. erthe (em. S.)

6 MS. avoee

7 (?)

8 those ; MS. thow

9 beholding

10 sirs

11 MS. schowyd

12 MS. story hath schowyd (em. H.)

18 ignorant

n outcry, clamorous protest

(see NED. under here, sb.)

15 showeth ; MS. schoyt

16 em. M.

THE BROME PLAY OF ABRAHAM AND ISAAC 517

How we schuld kepe, to owr pofwejre,1
Goddes commawments withowt grochyng.

Trowe ge, sores, and2 God sent an angell [to gow],
And commawndyd gow gowr chyld to slayn,8
Be jowr trowthe, ys ther ony of gow

That eyther wold groche or stryve therageyn 4 ?

How thyngke ge now, sorys, therby ?

I trow ther be iij, or iiij, or moo.

And thys5 women that wepe sorowfully
Whan that hyr chyldryn dey them froo 6 —

As nater woll 7 and kynd —

Yt ys but folly, I may well avow,8
To groche agens God or to greve gow,

For ge schall never se hym myschevyd,9 1 10 know,

Be lond nor watyr, have thys in mynd ;

And groche not agens owr Lord God

In welth or woo, wether 11 that he gow send,

Thow ge be never so hard bestad ;

For when he wyll, he may yt amend,

Hys comawmentes yf 12 ge kepe with good hart,

As thys story hath now schewyd 18 gow befor[n]e,14
And feytheffully serve hym qwyll 15 ge be qvart,10
That ge may piece God bothe evyn and morne.

Now Jesu, that weryd 17 the crown of thome,

Bryng us all to hevyn blysse !

Finis.

8 MS. to smygth of £owr

1 em. M.

2 if

6 die and leave them
" MS. woll woll (em. S.)

8 MS. awooe

9 afflicted

12 MS. treuly yf
18 MS. schowyd
14 em. H.

childes hed (em. H.)
4 against this
8 these

15 while

10 MS. wyll I

11 whichever

10 healthy, sound
15, MS. weryt

5i«

PLAYS

THE YORK NATIVITY PLAY

The Earl of Ashburnham’s manuscript (1430-1440), now MS. Brit. Mus.
Add. 35,290, was edited by Lucy Toulmin Smith as York Plays (Oxford, 1885).
Emendations are by Miss Smith (S.) ; Holthausen (H.), in Herrig’s Archiv
85. 413; Kolbing (K.), in Engl. Stud. 20. 187. The stage-directions are modern.
The form of the seven-line stanza should be noted : abab4c2b4c2.

SCENE I

Bethlehem. A stable. Enter Joseph and Mary

Jos. Allweldand 1 God in Trinite,

I praye )>e, Lord, for thy grete myght,

Unto thy symple servand see,

Here in j>is place vvher we are pight,2
Oureself allone ;

Lord, graunte us gode herberow 3 J>is nyght,
Within )>is wone.4

For we haue sought both uppe and doune,
Thurgh diverse stretis in )>is cite ;

So mekill pepull is comen to towne,

]?at we can nowhare herbered be,

Slike prees 6 it is 6 ;

Forsuthe I can no socoure see,

But belde 7 with bestes.8

And yf we here all nyght abide,

We shall be stormed in Jis steede9 ;

J>e walles are doune on ilke a side,

J>e ruffe is rayned 10 aboven oure hede,

Als have I roo.11

Say, Marie, doughtir, what is thy rede 12 ?
How sail we doo ?

1 almighty

2 pitched, settled
8 harbor, shelter

4 place, dwelling

5 such a crowd

6 MS. her is slike prees
t lodge

8 MS. belde us with here

bestes (em. H., K.)
9 place

10 wet with rain

11 rest, peace

12 counsel

THE YORK NATIVITY PLAY

519

For in grete nede nowe are we stedde,1
As }>ou thyselffe the soth may see,

For here is nowthir cloth ne bedde,

And we are weyke and all werie,

And fayne wolde rest.

Now, gracious God, for thy mercie,

Wisse 2 us ]>e best !

Mar. God will us wisse, full wele witt je,

)">erfore, Joseph, be of gud chere,

For in pis place borne will he be
]">at sail us save fro sorowes sere,3
Bothe even and morne.

Sir, witte je wele }>e tyme is nere
Hee4 will be borne.

Jos. )?an behoves us bide here stille,

Here in pis same place all }us nyght.

Mar. ^a, sir, forsuth it is Goddis will.

Jos. J?an wolde I fayne we had sum light,

Whatso befall ;

It waxes myrke 5 unto my sight,

And colde withall.

I will go gete us light forthy,6

And fewell fande 7 with me to bryng. [Exit.

Mar. Allweldand God yow governe and gy,8
As he is Sufferayne 9 of all thyng,

Fo[r] his grete myght !

And lende me grace to his lovyng
pat I me dight 10 !

Nowe in my sawle grete joie have I,

I am all cladde in comforte clere ;

1 placed

2 guide, direct

8 divers, various
4 when he

8 dark ; MS. right myrke

6 therefore

7 seek

8 guide

9 sovereign
10 prepare

520

PLAYS

Now will be borne of my body

Both God and Man togedir in feere,1
Bliste mott he be !

Jesu, my Son pat is so dere,

Now borne is he 1 — [Mary worships the child.

Hayle, my Lord God ! hayle, Prince of pees 1
Hayle, my Fadir ! and hayle, my Sone !

Hayle sovereyne Sege,2 all synnes to sesse 3 !

Hayle, God and Man in erth to wonne 4 !

Hayle ! thurgh whos myht
All pis worlde was first begonne,

Merknes and light.

Sone, as I sugett5 am of thyne,

Vowchesaffe, swete Sone, [for so] I pray pe,

That I myght pe take in armys myne,6
And in pis povre wede arraie 7 }>e.

Graunte me pi blisse,

As I am thy modir chosen to be
In sothfastnesse.

SCENE II

Outside the stable. Enter Joseph

Jos. A, Lorde ! what 8 the wedir is colde 1
J>e fellest 9 freese 10 pat evere I felyd.

I pray God helpe pam pat is olde,11
And namely 12 ]>am pat is vnwelde,13
So may I saie.

Now, gud God, pou be my belde,14

As pou best may. \_A sudden light shines.

1 together (redundant)

2 hero

8 cease

- dwell

6 subject ; MS. am sympill

sugett (K. omits sympill)

6 MS. )>e armys of myne

7 MS. to araie

8 how

9 cruelest
1° frost

11 MS. aide

12 especially
18 weak

14 shelter; MS. brilde
(em. S.)

THE YORK NATIVITY PLAY

521

A, Lord God ! what light is pis
pat comes shynyng pus sodenly ?

I can not saie, als have I blisse.
When I come home unto Marie,

pan sail I spirre.1

[Exit, s

SCENE III

Within the stable. Enter Joseph to Mary

[. Jos. ] A ! here[d] 2 be God, for nowe come I.

Mar. ^e ar welcum, sirre.

Jos. Say, Marie doghtir, what chere with pe ?

Mar. Right goode, Joseph, as has been ay.

Jos. What 3 swete thyng is pat on thy kne ? 10

Mar. It is my Sone, pe soth to saye,
pat is so gud.

Jos. Wele is me I bade 4 pis day
To se pis Foode 8 !

Me merveles mekill of pis light, 15

pat pusgates B shynes in pis place,

Forsuth it is a selcouth 7 sight!

Mar. pis hase he ordand 8 of his grace,

My Sone so ging,

A stame 9 to be shynyng a space 20

At his bering.10

For Balam tolde ful longe beforne
How pat a steme shulde rise full hye,11
And of a maiden shulde be borne 12

1 ask, inquire

2 em. K.

8 MS. O Marie what (em. H.)

4 awaited

6 child {lit., one fed)
6 thus

1 strange, unusual
8 ordained

9 star

10 birth

11 Num. 24. 1 7

12 Isa. 7. 14

522

PLAYS

A Sone 1 pat sail oure saffyng 2 be
Fro caris kene.

Forsuth it is my Sone so free
Whame he gan mene.3

S Jos. Nowe welcome, Floure fairest of hewe !

I shall pe menske 4 with mayne and myght.

Hayle, my Maker! hayle, Crist Jesu !

Ffayle, riall 6 Kyng, Roote of all right !

Ffayle, Saveour !

io Hayle, my Lorde, Lemer 6 of light !

Hayle, blessid Floure 1

Mar. Nowe, Lord, pat all pis worlde schall wynne,
To pe, my Sone, is pat I saye,

Here is no bedde to laye the inne,

15 )?erfore, my dere Sone, I pe praye,

Sen it is so,

Here in Jus cribbe I myght pe lay
Betweene bestis 7 two.

And I sail happe 8 pe, myn owne dere Childe,

20 With such clothes as we have here.

Jos. Marie,9 beholde ]>es beestis mylde,

They make lovyng in ther manere
As pei wer men ;

Forsothe it semes wele be ther chere 10
25 ]?are Lord pei ken.11

Mar. Ther Lorde pai kenne, pat wate I wele —
They worshippe hym with myght and mayne.

The wedir is colde, as ye may fele ;

1 MS. sonne 4 worship

2 salvation 6 royal

8 mean; MS. be whame Balam 6 flasher forth

gon mene (em. H.) 7 MS. J>er bestis (em. H., K.)

8 wrap

9 MS. O Marie (em. K.)
ln look

U know, recognize

THE YORK NATIVITY PLAY

523

To halde 1 hym warme ]>ei are full fayne
With ]?are warme breth,

And oondis 2 on hym. Is noght to layne8
To warme hym with ?

Nowe 4 slepis my Sone, blist mot he be !

And lyes full warme ]>er bestis bytwene.

Jos. Nowe4 is fulfilled, forsuth I see,

J?at Abacuc in nrynde gon mene,

By 6 prophicie :

He saide oure Savyoure shall be sene
Betwene bestis lye ;

And nowe I see ]’e same in sight.

Mar. ^ a , sir, forsuth ]>e same is he.

Jos. Honnoure and worshippe both day and nyght,

Aylastand Lorde, be done to ]>e,

As 6 is worthy !

And to 7 thy service I oblissh 8 me
With herte 9 holy.

Mar. pou mercyfull Maker most myghty,
My God, my Lorde, my Sone so free,

Thy handemayden forsoth am I,

And to thi service I oblissh me,

With herte9 entered0
Thy blissing, [now], beseke I thee,
Graunte11 us in12 feere.

1 keep 6 MS. and preched by (em. K.)

2 breathe 0 MS. all way as (em. K.)

8 borrow 7 MS. lord to (em. K.)

4 MS. O nowe (em. K.) 8 oblige me, bind myself

9 MS. all myn herte (em. K.)
1° entire, whole

11 MS. Jjou graunte (em. K.)

12 MS. all in (em. K.)

8. Abacuc: the allusion is to the apocryphal Pseudo-Matthew, chap. 14,
which reads : ' Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Habakkuk the
prophet, who said, Between two animals thou art made known.’ The reference
here is to Hab. 3. 2, where the Septuagint version reads : ' Thou shalt be
known between the two living creatures.’

524

PLAYS

THE SECOND TOWNELEY SHEPHERDS’ PLAY
(SECUNDA PASTORUM)

Gayley thus characterizes this piece ( Plays of our Forefathers , p. 182) : ' The
Wakefield Secunda ... is plot within plot, developed through eight closely
consecutive scenes, and crowded with action. The comic adventure is indeed
but an episode — this "sheep stealing of Mak ” — but it has its beginning,
middle, and end ; the motive, the devices, and the progress of a comedietta
in itself. It grows out of and belongs to the conditions with which the en¬
veloping action opens, and its party of the second part are also dramatic per¬
sons in the main action. ... As a work of dramatic genius this little play,
with its home-made philosophy, home-made figures, and home-made humor,
with its comic business, its sometimes boisterous spirits, its quiet and shrewd
irony, its ludicrous diction, its revelation of rural manners, its simple and
healthful creed, its radiant and naive devoutness, its dramatic anticipations,
postponements, and surprises, stands out English and alone, and a master¬
piece.’ The three shepherds he thus describes (pp. 182-3): 'Coll, the first
shepherd, who soliloquizes concerning political philosophy, a kind of later
fourteenth-century populist whom it refreshes to grumble ; . . . Gyb, the second
shepherd, whose vein is of matrimonial philosophy ; . . . and Daw, the hind,
whose philosophy is eclectic, who swears by the unborn Christ and Saint
Nicholas, and " lets the world pass.” He it is who sees " sudden sights in
the darkness ” ; who warns of the midnight-stalking Mak ; who makes that
" Yoman ” of the king lie safely down between them ; it is he, too, who dreams
of the stolen sheep, and conducts the vain search therefor ; and who, fortu¬
nately flinging back to Mak’s home to give the hypothetical babe, " that little
day starne,” a "saxpence,” lifts up the clout and diagnoses the fraud that has
been practised upon them.’ According to Pollard ( English Miracle Plays ,
p. 189), Mak is probably adapted from the favorite comic character, the con¬
jurer and buffoon Maugis, of the romance of the Four Sons of Aymon. Pollard’s
general estimate is (England’s edition, p. xxx) : 'The Secunda Pastorum . . .
is really perfect as a work of art.’

The play is written, like four others in the Towneley series — Noah , Prima
Pastorum , Fderod, and the Buffeting — and parts of others (cf. Pollard’s remarks
in England’s edition, pp. xxi ff. ; Gayley, op.ci.t ., pp. 163 ff.) in a nine-line stanza,
rhyming aaaa4b1ccc2b1, where the superior numbers denote the number of
feet in the line (the a-lines have each four feet, for instance). In reality, how¬
ever, there are four rhymes to the stanza, instead of three, since each of the
a-lines has a rhyme in the middle ; the scheme may therefore be represented
thus (cf. Pollard, p. xxii) : abababab2c1ddd2c1. All the stanzas save one
(535 14 ff.) are constructed on this model, and that has lost two of the four
opening lines.

Not to mention earlier editions, the play was printed in 1897 by England
( The Towneley Plays., E.E.T.S. Ex. Ser., No. 71, pp. 116-40), and by Manly

THE TOWNELEY SECUNDA PASTORUM

525

(Spec. Pre-Shak. Drama 1. 94-119, with a few emendations by Kittredge); in
1909 by Hemingway (English Nativity Plays , pp. 188-214); and in part by
Pollard (English Miracle Plays, pp. 31-43). Emendations by Kolbing are in
Engl. Stud. 21. 165-6. Modernizations are to be found in Everyman’s Library
(Everyman, with Other Interludes, ed. by Ernst Rhys) and (better) in the River¬
side Literature Series (The Second Shepherds' Play, etc., ed. by C. G. Child);
the latter has a good bibliographical introduction, pp. 27-8.

The manuscript may be dated about 1460, and the composition of the plays
may extend approximately from 1360-1410 (Pollard, in England’s edition,
pp. xxvii-xxviii). Miss Hope Traver (Mod. Lang. Notes 20 (1905). 5) con¬
cludes from the use of the word ' crochett ’ (551 7), introduced into the lan¬
guage before 1400, that the Secunda Pastorum was written 'perhaps about
1400 or a little later’ (for other references to music see 532 16 ff. ; 54 2 25 ff . ;
544 9; 554 24).

The stage-directions are modern. For Primus Pastor, Uxor, etc., I have
substituted the proper names in the text; thus : Coll for Primus Pastor; Gib
for Secundus (iius) Pastor; Daw for Tertius (iiius) Pastor; Gill for Uxor
(eius), etc.

CHARACTERS OF THE PLAY

Coll, the First Shepherd

Gib, the Second Shepherd

Daw, the Third Shepherd, or rather Gib's servant

Mak, the Thief

Gill, Adah’s Wife

The Virgin Mary, with the Child Jesus

An Angel

SCENE I

The moors near Horlmry, in the West Riding of Yorkshire
Enter Coll, the First Shepherd

Coll. Lord, what these weders1 ar cold ! and I am yll happyd 2;

I am nerehand 3 dold,4 so long have I nappyd ;

My legys thay fold, my fyngers ar chappyd ;

It is not as I wold, for I am al lappyd 6
In sorow,

1 weathers, storms

2 wrapped, clothed

8 nearly
4 numb

8 lapped, enveloped

526

PLAYS

In stormes and tempest —

Now in the eest, now in the west.

Wo is hym has never rest

Mydday nor morow !

5 Bot we sely 1 husbandys 2 that walkys on the moore,

In fayth we are nerehandys outt of the doore.3

No wonder, as it standys, if we be poore,

P’for the tylthe 4 of oure landys lyys falow as the floore,

As ye ken.

10 We ar so lamyd,5

Ffortaxed6 and ramyd,7

We ar mayde handtamyd 8

With 9 thyse gentlery-men.10

Thus thay refe 11 us oure rest — oure Lady theym wary 12 !

15 These men that ar lord-fest,13 thay cause the ploghe tary.

That 14 men say is for the best, we fynde it contrary ;

Thus ar husbandys opprest, in po[i]nte to 10 myscary
On lyfe.

Thus hold thay us hunder,

20 Thus thay bryng us in blonder 16 ;

It were greatte wonder

And 17 ever shuld we thryfe.

Ther 18 shall com a swa[y]ne 19 as prowde as a po 20 ;

He must borow my wa[y]ne,21 my ploghe also ;

25 Then I am full fa[y]ne 22 to graunt or28 he go.

Thus lyf we in payne, anger, and wo,

By nyght and day ;

1 helpless, miserable

2 husbandmen (see 1. 17) ;

MS. shepardes (em. sug¬
gested by M.)

8 nearly homeless

4 surface (?) (there is arable

land among the moors)

6 MS. hamyd (em. H.)

6 overtaxed

r oppressed

8 reduced to submission
8 by

10 gentry

11 take from

12 curse

48 bound to a lord

14 what

15 in peril of; em. E.

16 confusion, trouble

17 if

18 MS. transposes this stanza and

the next (em. K.)

18 swain

20 peacock

21 wagon

22 MS. swane, wane, fane (em. K.)
28 ere

THE TOWNELEY SECUNDA PASTORUM

52;

He must have if he langyd,1
If I shuld forgang 2 3 it,

I were better be hangyd

Then oones 8 say hym nay.

Ffor may he gett a paynt slefe,4 or a broche, now-on-dayes,
Wo is hym that hym grefe, or onys aganesays 5 !

Dar no man hym reprefe,6 what mastry 7 he mays,8
And yit may no man lefe 9 oone word that he says —

No letter.

He can make purveance 10
With boste and bragance,11
And all is thrugh mantenance 12

Of men that are gretter.

It dos me good, as I walk thus by myn oone,13
Of this warld for to talk in maner of mone.14
To my shepe wyll I stalk, and herkyn anone,
Ther abyde on a balk,15 or sytt on a stone,

Fful soyne 16 ;

Ffor I trowe, perde,17
Trew men if thay be,

We gett more compane 18

Or it be noyne.19

Enter Gib, the Second Shepherd. He fails to see Coll

Gib. Benste 20 and Dominus ! What may this bemeyne 21 ?
Why fares this warld thus ? Oft have we not sene ?

1 desired

2 do without

3 once

4 sleeve embroidered in colors

5 contradicts

6 reprove

7 masterful behavior

8 makes, shows

9 believe

11 provision for himself
n bragging

12 countenance, backing
'8 myself

14 lamentation

15 ridge
W soon
II par Dien
is company
I9 noon
211 benedicite
21 mean, signify

528

PLAYS

Lord, thyse winds 1 ar spytus,2 and the weders 8 full kene,
And the frostys so hydus4 thay water myn eeyne —

No ly.6

Now in dry, now in wete,

5 Now in snaw, now in slete ;

When my shone 6 freys to my fete,

It is not all esy.

Bot as far as I ken, or yit as I go,

We sely wedmen 7 dre 8 mekyll wo,
io We have sorow then and then, it fallys oft so.

Sely Capyle, oure hen, both to and fro
She kakyls,

Bot begyn she to crok,

To groyne,9 or [to clo]k,10
15 Wo is hym 11 oure cok,

Ffor he is in the shakyls 12 1

These men that ar wed have not all thare wyll ;

When they ar full hard sted,13 thay sygh full styll ;

God wayte 14 thay ar led full hard and full yll ;

20 In bower nor in bed thay say noght thertyll

This tyde.

My parte have I fun,15
I know my lesson :

Wo is hym that is bun,16
25 Ffor he must abyde.17

Bot now late in oure lyfys (a mervell to me,

That I thynk my hart ryfys 18 sich wonders to see —
What that destany dryfys it shuld so be !)

Som men wyll have two wyfys, and som men thre
30 In store 1

1 MS. weders (em.sug- 7 See line 17, below

gested by M.) 8 endure, suiter

2 spiteful 8 grumble

8 storms W em. E.

4 hideous U MS. hym is of (em. suggested by M.)

6 lie i'2 shackles, bonds of wedlock ; MS. shekyls

6 shoes is beset

14 knows
is found

16 bound

17 stay as he is •

18 is riven asunder

THE TOWNELEY SECUNDA PASTORUM

529

Som ar wo that has any,

Bot so far [as] can 1 I,

Wo is hym that has many,

Ffor he felys sore.

Bot, yong men, of 2 wowyng, for God that you boght, 5

Be well war 3 of wedyng, and thynk in youre thoght :

* Had I wyst4 ’ is a thyng it servys of noght.

Mekyll sty 11 mowrnyng has wedyng home broght,

And grefys,

With many a sharp showre ; 10

Ffor thou may each in an owre
That shall [savour] 5 fulle sowre

As long as thou lyffys.

Ffor — as ever red I pystyll 6 ! — I have oone to my fere 7
As sharp as a thystyll, as rugh as a brere ; 1 5

She is browyd 8 lyke a brystyll, with a sowre-loten 9 chere 10 ;

Had she oones wett hyr why sty 11, she couth syng full clere
Hyr Pater Noster.

She is as greatt as a whall 11 ;

She has a galon of gall ; 20

By hym that dyed for us all,

I wald I had ryn 12 to 13 I had lost hir 14 !

Coll. ' God looke over the raw 16 ! ’ Ffull defly 16 ye stand !

Gib. Yee, the dewill in thi maw so tariand 17 !

Sagh thou awre 18 of Daw ? 25

Coll. Yee, on a ley 19 land

Hard I hym blaw. He commys here at hand,

Not far,

1 know

2 as to

3 beware well

4 known

5 em. E.

6 epistle

7 for my mate
3 has brows

9 sour-looking
1° expression
n whale
42 run

13 till

14 ' I wald I had lost hir ' would

be more metrical

15 row

is deaf
17 tarrying

1® anywhere ; MS. awro (see
NED. s.v. owhere)

I9 fallow, unplowed

530

PLAYS

Stand styll.

Gib. Qwhy ?

Coll. Ffor he commys, hope I.

Gib. He wyll make us both a ly 1
Bot-if we be war.2

Enter Daw, the Third Shepherd. At first he thi?iks himself alone

S Daw. Crystys crosse me spede and Sant Nycholas !

Therof had I nede, it is wars then it was.

Whoso couthe take hede and lett the warld pas,

It is ever in drede, and brekyll 3 as glas,

And slythys.4
io This warld fowre 5 never so,

With mervels mo and mo —

Now in weyll,6 now in wo,

And all thyng wrythys.7

Was never syn Noe8 floode sich floodys seyn,

15 Wyndys and ranys so rude, and stormes so keyn —

Som stamerd, som stod in dowte, as I weyn.

Now God turne all to good ! I say as I mene,

Ffor ponder :

These floodys so thay drowne,

20 Both in feyldys and in towne,

And berys all downe,

And that is a wonder ! [ Catches sight of the others.

We that walk on the nyghtys, oure catell to kepe,

We se sodan syghtys, when othere men slepe.

25 Yit me thynk my hart lyghtys,9 I se shrewys 10 pepe.

\_Still soliloquizi?ig.

Ye ar two [t]all 11 wyghtys — I wyll gyff my shepe
A turne.

1 l>e 6 fared 9 grows light

2 wary 6 weal 10 rascals

8 brittle 7 turns, changes li em. Kittredge

4 slides 8 Noah’s

THE TOWNELEY SECUNDA PASTORUM

531

— Bot full yll have I ment 1 :

As I walk on this bent,2
I may lyghtly repent,

My toes if I spume.3

[He first addresses Coll, then his master , Gib.
A, sir, God you save, and master myne !

— - A drynk fayn wold I have, and somwhat to dyne.

Coll. Crystys curs, my knave, thou art a ledyr4 hyne5!

Gib. What, the boy lyst rave ! Abyde unto syne 6 ;

We have made 7 it.

Yll thryft on thy pate !

Though the shrew cam late,

Yit is he in state

To dyne, if he had it.

Daw. Sich servandys as I, that swettys and swynkys,8
Etys oure brede full dry, and that me forthynkys.9
We ar oft weytt and wery when master-men wynkys,10
Yit commys full lately 11 both dyners and drynkys.

Bot nately 12

Both oure dame and oure syre,

When we have ryn in the myre,

Thay can nyp 13 at oure hyre,

And pay us full lately.

Bot here my trouth, master, for the fayr 14 that ye make,

I shall do therafter 16 — wyrk as I take ;

I shall do a lytyll, sir, and emang 16 ever lake,17
Ffor yit lay my soper never on my stomake
In feyldys.

1 planned (to visit the sheep,

since he may stumble in
the dark)

2 heath, open field

8 stub

4 worthless

5 hind

6 wait till later
i finished ; MS. mayde

8 toil

9 grieves
1° sleep

n reluctantly, after the
proper time

12 to some purpose, thoroughly
18 take away bits

14 wages

15 in proportion
1® the whole time
11 be lacking

532

PLAYS

Wherto shuld I threpe 1 ?

With my staf can I lepe,

And men say, ' Lyght chepe 2

Letherly 8 forveldys.4 ’

5 Coll. Thou were an yll lad to ryde on 5 wowyng
With a man that had hot lytyll of spendyng.

Gib. Peasse, boy, I bad ! — no more jangling,

Or I shall make the full rad,° by the hevens Kyng,

With thy gawdys 7 !

io Wher ar oure shepe, boy, we skorne 8 ?

Daw. Sir, this same day at morne
I thaym left in the come,

When thay rang lawdys 9 ;

Thay have pasture good, thay can not go wrong.

1 5 Coll. That is right, by the roode ! thyse nyghtys ar long ;

Yit I wold, or we yode,10 oone gaf us a song.

Gib. So I thoght as I stode — to myrth us emong.11
Daw. I grauntt.

Coll. Lett me syng the tenory.

20 Gib. And I the tryble so hye.

Daw. Then the meyne 12 fallys to me ;

Lett se how you chauntt. [They sing.

Enter Mak, with a cloak throw?i over his tunic 13

Mak. Now, Lord, for thy naymes vii, that made both moyn and starnes,
Well mo then I can neven,14 thi will, Lorde, of me tharnys15 ;

25 I am all uneven 16 — that moves oft my hames 17 ;

Now wold God I were in heven, for the[re] 18 wepe no barnes 19
So styll !

1 complain

2 easy bargain
8 badly

4 repays

5 a-

6 frightened

7 tricks

8 (?)

9 lauds (before daybreak)

1° before we went

11 to gladden us the while

12 middle part

18 MS. Tunc intrat Mak, in clamide
se super togam vestitus

14 name

15 lacks

16 at odds, at sixes and sevens
brains

48 em. E.

19 children

THE TOWNELEY SECUNDA PASTORUM

533

Coll. Who is that pypys so poore ?

Mak. Wold God ye wyst how I foore 1 1
[Ch//.2 *] Lo, a man that walkys on the moore,

And has not all his wyll !

Gib. Mak, where has thou gon 8 ? Tell us tythyng.4 5
Daw. Is he commen ? Then ylk on take hede to his thyng.6

[, Snatches his own cloak from. Mak.6
Mak. What 1 Ich be a yoman, I tell you, of the king,

[. Pretending not to know them.
The self and the same, sond 7 from a greatt lordyng,

And sich.8

Ffy on you ! Goyth hence
Out of my presence !

I must have reverence —

Why, who be Ich ?

Coll. Why make ye it so qwaynt,9 Mak ? Ye do wrang.

Gib. Bot, Mak, lyst ye saynt 10 ? I trow that ye lang.11
Daw. I trow the shrew 12 can paynt,13 the dewyll myght hym hang !
Mak. Ich shall make complaynt, and make you all to thwang,14
At a worde,

And tell evyn 15 how ye doth.

Coll. Bot, Mak, is that sothe ?

Now take outt that sothren 16 tothe,

And sett in a torde 17 !

Gib. Mak, the dewill in youre ee ! A stroke wold I leyne 18 you.
Daw. Mak, know ye not me ? By God, I couthe teyn 19 you.
Mak. God looke 20 you all thre J Me thoght I had sene you,

[As if recogtiizing them.

1 fared

2 em. Child

8 MS. gom (em. E.)

4 news

5 property

6 MS. & accipit clamidem

ab ipso

7 messenger

8 so forth

9 do you behave so strangely
1° play the saint

11 are restless (love change ?)

12 rascal
l8 deceive

14 to be whipped
1® exactly

16 southern (Child under¬

stands ' deceitful ’)

17 piece of dung

18 lend

49 trouble
20 bless

534

PLAYS

Ye ar a fare compane.

Coll. Can ye now mene you 1 ?

Gib. Shrew, jape 2 1

Thus late as thou goys,

What wyll men suppos ?

5 And thou has an yll noys 8

Of stelyng of shepe.

Mak. And I am trew as steyll, all men waytt 4 ;

Bot a sekenes I feyll that haldys 6 me full haytt 6 :

My belly farys not weyll, it is out of astate.
io Daw. ' Seldom lyys the dewyll dede by the gate.’

Mak. Therfor

Full sore am I and yll,

If I stande stone-styll.

I ete not an nedyll 7

iS Thys moneth and more.

Coll. How farys thi wyff ? By my hoode, how farys sho ?
Mak. Lyys walteryng,8 by the roode, by the fyere, lo !
And a howse full of brude 9 ; she drynkys well, to.

Yll spede othere good that she wyll do !

20 Bot s[h]o 10

Etys as fast as she can ;

And ilk yere that commys to man
She bryngys furth a lakan,11

And, som yeres, two.

25 Bot were I not more gracy[o]us,12 and rychere be 18 far,

I were 14 eten outt of howse and of harbar 15 ;

Yit is she a fowll dowse,16 if ye com nar ;

Ther is none that trowse nor knowys a war 17
Then ken I.

1 remember

2 make jokes
8 reputation

4 know

5 keeps

6 hot

7 particle, bit

8 rolling about

9 brood, children
M em. H.

n baby (lit. toy)

12 prosperous

13 by

n should be

15 shelter

16 doxy
ii worse

THE TOWNELEY SECUNDA PASTORUM

535

Now wyll ye se what I profer :

To gyf all in my cofer
To-mome at next1 to offer

Hyr hed-maspenny.2

Coll. I am cold and nakyd, and wold have a fyere. 5

Gib. I wote so forwakyd 8 is none in this shyre !

I wold slepe if 4 I takyd les to my hyere.5

Daw. I am wery, forrakyd,6 and run in the myre —

Wake thou !

Gib. Nay, I wyll lyg downe by, 10

Ffor I must slepe truly.

Daw. As good a mans son was I
As any of you.7

Bot, Mak, com heder ! betwene shall thou lyg downe.

Afak. Then myght I lett 8 you bedene 9 of that ye wold rowne.10 1 5
No drede. [He says his prayers.

' Ffro my top to my too,

1 at length (?) 6 hire 8 hinder

2 funeral dues (see 6 22) 8 worn out with walking 8 completely

8 weary with waking 7 Two lines are apparently 1° whisper

4 even if lost here

5. Coll : MS. gives this line to Daw, and makes it follow Gib’s next speech ;
but Gib’s speech requires Daw’s next as an immediate answer.

8. Daw : MS. assigns this to Coll, but Daw and his master, Gib, are having
a dispute as to who shall keep awake.

17. In the Prima Pastorum (290-5), one of the shepherds says, as they pre¬
pare to lie down . pfor fer(je We be fryht, a crosse let us kest :

' Cryst-crosse, benedyght eest and west,

Ffor drede.

Jesus onazorus,

Crucyefixus,

Morcus, Andreus,

God be oure spede ! ’

Cf. the blessing in Chaucer’s Miller's Tale 292-300 :

Therwith the nightspel seyde he anonrightes
On foure halves of the hous aboute,

And on the threshfold of the dore withoute :

' Jesu Crist, and seynt Benedight,

Blesse this hous from every wikked wight,

For nightes verye, the white Pater Noster\

Where wentestow, seynt Petres soster ? ’

536

PLAYS

Manns tuas commendo,1 2 *
Poncio Pilato ;

Cryst-crosse me spede ! ’

[ While the Shepherds sleep on, he rises?

Now were tyme for a man that lakkys what he wold
To stalk prevely than unto a fold,

And neemly 8 to wyrk than, and be not to bold,

Ffor he might aby4 the bargan, if it were told
At the endyng.

Now were tyme for to reyll 5 ;

Bot he nedys good counsell
That fayn wold fare weyll,

And has bot lytyll spendyng.6 [Me works a spell.

Bot abowte you a serkyll,7 as rownde as a moyn,8
Kest 9 now 10 I wyll, tyll that it be noyn,

That ye lyg stone-styll to that I have doyne ;

And I shall say thertyll of good wordys a foyne 11 :

' On hight,

Over youre heydys, my hand I lyft.

Outt go youre een ! fordo 12 your syght 1 ’ —

Bot yit I must make better shyft,

And 18 it be right.

Lord, what 14 thay slepe hard ! — that may ye all here.

Was I never a shepard, bot now wyll I lere 15 ;

If the flok be skard,16 yit shall I nyp 17 nere.

How ! drawes hederward ! Now mendys oure chere
Ffrom18 sorow;

1 Cf. Luke 23. 46

2 MS. Tunc surgit, pastoribus dormi-

entibus, & dicit :

8 nimbly
* atone for

5 ramble

6 money to spend

7 circle (a magician’s imaginary circle)

8 oy phonetically = 0 in this

12 destroy

text

13 if

9 cast (see note on 535 lr)

I4 how

10 MS. to I have done that;

75 learn

but this seems to have

18 frightened

been anticipated from

77 steal up

next line by some scribe

18 MS.(ffronem.E.)

H few

THE TOWNELEY SECUNUA PASTORUM

537

A fatt shepe, I dar say !

A good flese, dar I lay 1 1
Eftwhyte2 when I may,

Bot this will I borow. [ Exit with the sheep.

SCENE II

Max’s cottage. Enter Max

[Mak.] How, Gyll, art thou in ? Gett us som lyght. e

Gill. Who makys sich dyn this tyme of the nyght ?

I am sett for to spyn, I hope not I myght
Ryse a penny to wyn,3 I shrew 4 5 them on hight 3 !

So farys

A huswyff that has bene — io

To be rasyd 6 thus betwene,7
Here may no note 8 be sene,

Ffor9 sich small charys.10

Mak. Good wyff, open the hek 11 ! Seys thou not what I bryng ?

Gill. I may thole 12 the dray 13 the snek.14 A, com in, my swetyng ! 15
Mak. Yee, thou thar15 not rek of 16 my long standyng.

[ Reproachfully .

Gill. By the nakyd nek art thou lyke for to hyng.

Mak. Do way 17 !

I am worthy my mete,

Ffor, in a strate,18 can I gett 20

More then thay that swynke and swette

All the long day. \Shows Gill the sheep.

Thus it fell to my lott, Gyll, I had sich grace.19
Gill. It were a fowll blott to be hanged for the case.

1 wager

2 return, repay

8 I do not expect that I could
gain a penny by rising

4 curse

5 aloud, openly

6 rushed

7 ever and anon

8 work (i.e. completed task)

9 because of
1° jobs

11 inner door

12 suffer
is to draw

!■* latch
15 need
1° care about

17 get along

18 at a pinch

19 luck

538

PLAYS

Mak. I have skapyd, Jelott,1 oft as hard a glase.2
Gill. ' Bot so long goys the pott to the water,’ men says,

' At last

Comys it home broken.’

5 Mak. Well knowe I the token,

Bot let it never be spoken ! —

Bot com and help fast.

I wold he were slayn, I lyst well ete 3 ;

This twelmo[n]the 4 was I not so fayn of oone shepe-mete.5
io Gill. Com thay or6 he be slayn, and here the shepe blete —
Mak. Then myght I be tane. That were a cold swette !

Go spar7
The gaytt 8 doore.

Gill. Yis, Mak.

15 Ffor and thay com at thy bak —

Mak. Then myght I far, by9 all the pak,

The dewill of the war.10

Gill. A good bowrde 11 have I spied, syn thou can 12 none :
Here shall we hym hyde, to 13 thay be gone,

20 In my credyll.14 — Abyde 15 ! Lett me alone ! —

And I shall lyg besyde in chyl[d]bed, and grone.

Mak. Thou red,16

And I shall say thou was lyght17
Of a knave 18 childe this nyght.

25 Gill. Now well is me day19 bright

That ever was I bred !

This is a good gyse,20 and a far[e] cast,21
Yit a womanfs] avyse helpys at the last.

1 French form of ' Gill ’ (?) 9 fare, at the hands of ; MS.

2 rub, swipe, plight (lit. blow) by for (em. Skeat, Loge-

8 greatly desire to eat man)

4 em. K. 1° the devil the worse, a devil-

6 meal of mutton ish deal worse

8 ere 11 jest

" fasten 12 knowest

8 outer is until

14 cradle

15 wait

1® make ready
17 delivered
is boy

19 the day

20 way

21 clever contrivance

THE TOWNELEY SECUNDA PASTORUM

539

I wote never who spyse ; agane go thou fast.

Mak. Bot 1 I com 2 or thay ryse, els blawes a cold blast !

I wyll go slepe.

Yit slepys all this meneye,8
And I shall go stalk prevely,

As it had never bene I

That caryed thare shepe.

SCENE III

The moors near Horbury

Enter Coll, Gib, Daw, and Mak

Coll. Resurrex a mortruis ! have hald my hand !
Judas carnas dominus ! I may not well stand.

My foytt slepys, by Jesus ! and I water-fastand.4
I thoght that we layd us full nere Yngland.

Gib. A ! ye !

Lord, what I have slept weyll 1
As fresh as an eyll 5 ;

As lyght I me feyll 6

As leyfe on a tre !

Daw. Benste 7 be herein ! So my body 8 qwakys
My hart is outt of skyn, what so it makys.

Who makys all this dyn ? So my browes blakys,9
To the dowore 10 wyll I wyn. Harke, felows, wakys !

We were fowre ;

Se ye awre 11 of Mak now ?

Coll. We were up or thou.

Gib. Man, I gyf God avowe

Yit yede 12 he na owre.13

1 unless

2 reach there
8 company

*■ fasting on water
6 eel

6 feel myself

" a blessing

8 MS. illegible; E., H. hart;

Kittredge, M. body

9 grow black

1° door

11 anywhere

12 went

18 nowhere ; MS. nawre

540

PLAYS

Daw. Me thoght he was lapt in a wolfe-skyn.

Coll. So are many now hapt, namely1 within.

Daw ,2 When we had long napt, me thoght with a gyn 8
A fatt shepe he trapt, hot he mayde no dyn.

5 Gib} Be sty 11,

Thi dreme makys the woode 8 ;

It is hot fantom, by the roode !

Coll. Now God turne all to good,

If it be his wyll.

io Gib. Ryse, Mak, for shame ! Thou lygys right lang.

Mak. Now, Crystys holy name be us emang !

What is this ? For Sant Jame, I may not well gang I
I trow I be the same. A, my nek has lygen wrang
Enoghe !

j s Mekill thank ! Syn yistereven,

Now, by Sant Stevyn,6
I was flayd 7 with a swevyn,8

My hart out ofsloghe.9

I thoght Gy 11 began to crok, and travell 10 full sad,

20 Wei ner 11 at the fyrst cok, of a yong lad

Ffor to mend oure flok ; then be I never glad —

I have tow on my rok more then ever I had.

A, my heede 1

A house full of yong tharmes !

25 The dewill knok outt thare harnes12 !

Wo is hym has many barnes,

And therto lytyll brede !

1 especially 5 mad 9 which smote my heart out (?)

2 MS. ii pastor (em. M.) 6 MS. strevyn (em. H.) 10 travail

8 snare, trap t tormented 11 well nigh

4 MS. iii pastor (em. M.) 8 dream 12 brains

22. rok : distaff ; the phrase means ' business to attend to ’ (cf. Chaucer,
Millers Tale 588 (A 3774), and Skeat’s note).

24. tharmes: children (lit. bowels, Lat. viscera; cf. Ovid, Met. 8. 478;
Shakespeare, M. for M. 3. 1. 29).

THE TOWNELEY SECUNDA PASTORUM

541

I must go home, by youre lefe, to Gyll, as I thoght,

I pray you looke 1 my slefe,2 that I steyll noght ;

I am loth you to grefe, or from you take oght. {Exit Mak.

Daw. Go furth, yll myght thou chefe 3 1 Now wold I we soght
This morne
That we had all oure store.

Coll. Bot I will go before.

Let us mete.

Gib. Whore ?

Daw. At the crokyd thome.

SCENE IV

Mak’s cottage. Mak enters

Afak. Undo this doore ! Who is here ? How long shall I stand ?
Gill. Who makys sich a bere 4 ? Now walk in the wenyand.

Mak. A, Gyll, what chere ? It is I, Mak, youre husbande.

Gill. Then may we se 5 here the dewill in a bande,6
Syr Gyle 7 1

Lo, he commys with a lote 8
As he were holden in the throte.

I may not syt at my note 9

A handlang-while 10 1

Mak. Wyll ye here what fare she makys to gett hir a glose 11 ?
And dos noght bot lakys,12 and dowse 13 hir toose.

Gill. Why, who wanders? Whowakys? Who commys? Whogose?
Who brewys ? Who bakys ? What makys me thus hose 14 ?

And than

1 look in 6 bond, chain 11 pretext

2 sleeve 7 Cf. p. 529, note 9 12 amuse herself

8 prosper 8 voice 18 strokes, caresses

4 noise, clamor 9 work 14 hoarse

6 MS. be (em. Kittredge) 10 an instant

10. crokyd thome : perhaps the Shepherds’ Thorn of Mapplewell, three
miles northwest of Barnsley, and distant about eight miles from Horbury (see
England’s ed., p. xiv).

13. wenyand : waning of the moon, i.e. unlucky time (cf. waniott, e.g.
Shakespeare, Per. 2. 1. 17).

542

PLAYS

It is rewthe to beholde ;

Now in hote, now in colde,

Ffull wofull is the householde

That wantys a woman.

5 Bot what ende has thou mayde with the hyrdys,1 Mak ?

Mak. The last worde that thay sayde when I turnyd my bak,
Thay wold looke that thay hade thare shepe all the pak.

I hope 2 thay wyll nott be well payde 3 when thay thare shepe lak,
Perde !

io Bot howso the gam 4 gose,

To me thay wyll suppose,5
And make a fowll noyse,

And cry outt apon me.

Bot thou must do as thou hyght.6
15 Gill. I accorde me thertyll.

I shall swedyll 7 hym right in my credyll ;

If it were a gretter slyght,8 yit couthe I help tyll.

I wyll lyg downe stright,9 com hap 10 me.

Mak. I wyll.

Gill. Behynde !

20 Com Coll and his maroo,11
Thay wyll nyp us full naroo.

Mak. Bot I may cry out ' Haroo 1 ’

The shepe if thay fynde.

Gill. Harken ay when thay call — thay will com onone.

25 Com and make redy all, and syng by thyn oone12;

Syng ' lullay ’ thou shall, for I must grone,

And cry outt by the wall on Mary and John,

Ffor sore.13

1 shepherds

2 suspect
8 pleased

4 sport

5 they will suspect me

8 promised

7 swaddle

8 trick

9 straightway
10 wrap, cover

11 companion = Gib (cf. Words¬

worth’s ' winsome marrow,'
Yarrow Unvisited )

12 alone, by thyself

13 pain

THE TOWNELEY SECUNDA PASTORUM

543

Syng ' lullay ’ on fast
When thou heris at the last ;

And, hot I play a fals cast,1

Trust me no more.

SCENE V

The moors near Horbury. Enter Coll, Gib, and Daw

Daw. A, Coll, goode morne, why slepys thou nott ?

Coll. Alas, that ever was I borne ! We have a fowll blott —
A fat wedir 2 have we lorne.

Daw. Mary, Godys forbott 3 !

Gib. Who shuld do us that skorne ? That were a fowll spott.
Coll. Som shrewe.

I have soght with my dogys
All Horbery 4 shrogys,5
And, of xv hogys,6

Ffond I hot oone ewe.

Daw. Now trow me, if ye will — by Sant Thomas of Kent,7

Ayther Mak or Gyll was at that assent.8

Coll. Peasse, man, be still ! I sagh when he went.

Thou sklanders hym yll, thou aght to repent
Goode spede.

Gib. Now as ever myght I the,9
If I shuld evyn here de,10
I wold say it were he

That dyd that same dede 1

Daw. Go we theder, I rede,11 and ryn 12 on oure feete.

Shall I never ete brede the sothe to 18 I weed14

shrewd trick (on the
shepherds)
wether

God forbid (lit. God’s
prohibition)
Horbury, four miles

southwest of Wakefield,
in Yorkshire

5 thickets

6 young sheep

‘ Thomas & Becket
8 agreement, concerted action

9 prosper
1° die
U counsel

12 Daw is always ' rynning ’

13 till

14 know; MS. wytt (H. weete)

544

PLAYS

Coll. Nor drynk in my heede, with hym tyll I mete.
Gib. I wyll rest in no stede tyll that I hym grete,
My brothere.1
Oone 2 I will hight :

5 Tyll I se hym in sight,

Shall I never slepe one nyght

Ther8 I do anothere.

SCENE VI

Mak’s cottage. Mak singing within , and Gill groaning

Daw. Will ye here how thay hak 4 ? Oure syre lyst croyne.3
Coll. Hard 6 I never none crak 7 so clere out of toyne.8
io Call on hym.

Gib. Mak ! Undo youre doore soyne !

Mak. Who is that spak, as it were noyne,9
On loft 10 ?

Who is that, I say ?

Daw. Goode felowse, were it day —

1 5 Mak. As far as ye may,

Good, spekys soft

Over a seke woman’s heede, that is at maylleasse 11 ;

I had lever be dede or she had any dyseasse.12
Gill. Go to anothere stede,18 I may not well qweasse.14
20 Ich 13 fote that ye trede goys thorow my nese 10

So hee.17

Coll. Tell us, Mak, if ye may,

How fare ye, I say ?

Mak. Bot ar ye in this towne 18 to-day ? —

25 Now how fare ye ?

1 = Coll

2 one thing
8 where

4 jangle

5 croon
8 heard

7 bray, bawl

8 tune

8 noon

10 up there

11 distress (OF. malaise)

12 suffering

!8 place

14 breathe (lit. wheeze)

15 each

16 nose

17 loud

18 farmstead

THE TOWNELEY SECUNDA PASTORUM

545

Ye have ryn in the myre, and ar weytt yit ;

I shall make you a fyre, if ye will syt.

A nores 1 wold I hyre — thynk ye on 2 yit ?

Well qwytt3 is my hyre — my dreme this is itt —
A seson.4

I have barnes, if ye knew,

Well mo then enewe — -

Bot we must drynk as we brew,

And that is bot reson.

I wold ye dynyd or ye yode.6 Me thynk that ye swette.
Gib. Nay, nawther mendys oure mode 6 drynke nor mette.
Mak. Why, sir, alys 7 you oght bot goode ?

Daw. Yee, oure shepe that we gett

Ar stollyn as thay yode ; oure los is grette.

Mak. Syrs, drynkys !

Had I bene thore

Som shuld have boght it full sore.

Coll. Mary, som men trowes that ye wore,8
And that us forthynkys.9

Gib. Mak, som men trowys that it shuld be ye.
Daw. Ayther ye or youre spouse, so say we.

Mak. Now if ye have suspowse 10 to Gill or to me,
Com and rype 11 oure howse, and then may ye se
Who had hir12 —

If I any shepe fott,13
Aythor cow or stott 14 ;

And Gyll, my wyfe, rose nott

Here syn she lade hir.

1 nurse

2 one

8 requited, earned
4 for a while
6 before you went

« temper
' ails
8 were
o troubles
1° suspicion

U search
12 the ewe
18 fetched
14 steer

That this be the fyrst mele that I shall ete this day.

Coll. Mak, as have I ceyll,2 avyse the, I say —

' He lernyd tymely3 to steyll that couth not say nay.’

Gill. I swelt 4 !

Outt, thefys, fro my wonys 5 !

Ye com to rob us, for the nonys.

Mak. Here ye not how she gronys ?

Youre hartys shuld melt.

Gill. Outt, thefys, fro my barne ! Negh6 hym not thor7 !
Mak. Wyst ye how she had fame,8 youre hartys wold be sore.
Ye do wrang, I you warne, that thus commys before
To a woman that has fame — bot I say no more.

Gill. A, my medyll 9 ! —

I pray to God so mylde,

If ever I you begyld,

That I ete 10 this chylde

That lygs in this credyll.

Mak. Peasse, woman, for Godys payn,11 and cry not so 1
Thou spyllys 12 thy bra[y]ne, and makys me full wo.

Gib. I trowe oure shepe be slayn. What finde ye two ?

Daw. All wyrk we in vayn, as well may we go.

Pot hatters,18
I can fynde no flesh,

Hard nor nesh,14
Salt nor fresh,

Bot two tome 15 platers ;

Whik 16 catell bot this, tame nor wylde,

None, as have I blys, as lowde as he smylde.17

leal

7 there

13 except clothes (I can find nothing)

bliss

8 fared

11 soft

early

9 middle, inwards

13 empty

die

10 may eat

16 quick, live

dwelling

11 i.e. on the cross

I7 smelled as strongly as he (the sheep) (?)

approach

l2 dost injure

THE TOWNELEY SECUNDA PASTORUM

547

Gill. No, so God me blys, and gyf me joy of my chylde !

Coll. We have merkyd 1 amys ; 1 hold us begyld.

Gib. Syr, don 2 3 1 —

Syr — oure Lady hym save ! —

Is youre chyld a knave 8 ?

Mak. Any lord myght hym have,

This chyld, to his son.

When he wakyns he kyppys 4 that joy is to se.

Daw. In good tyme to hys hyppys,5 6 and in cele.*

Bot who were 7 his gossyppys,8 so sone rede 9 ?

Mak. So fare fall thare lyppys 10 !

Coll. Hark now, a le 11 ! [Aside.

Mak. So God thaym thank — ■

Parkyn, and Gybon Waller, I say,

And gentill John Home, in good fay ;

He made all the garray 12 —

With the greatt shank.

Gib. Mak, freyndys will we be, ffor we ar all oone.

Mak. We ? Now I hald for me,13 for mendys 14 gett I none !

Ffare well all thre, all 16 glad were ye gone.

\The shepherds leave the house.
Daw. ' Ffare wordys may ther be, bot luf is ther none’

This yere.

Coll. Gaf ye the chyld anythyng ?

Gib. I trow not oone farthyng 16 !

Daw. Ffast agane will I flyng ;

Abyde ye me here.17 [ Goes back to the house.

Mak, take it to no grefe if I com to thi barne.

Mak. Nay thou dos me greatt reprefe,18 and fowll has thou fame.

1 aimed 7 MS. was

2 completely 8 sponsors

3 boy 9 ready

4 grabs, clutches 10 lips

6 hips ; see Gen. 49. 25 ; Prov. n. 26 11 lie

6 happiness 12 commotion

13 myself

14 amends
16 very

16 rush, thing

17 MS. there

18 reproach

548

PLAYS

Daw. The child will it not grefe, that lytyll day-starne.1
Mak, with youre leyfe, let me gyf youre barne

Bot vi pence. [He approaches the cradle.

Mak. Nay, do way, he slepys.

Daw. Me thynk he pepys.2
Mak. When he wakyns, he wepys.

I pray you go hence. [Coll and Gib return.

Daw. Gyf me lefe hym to kys, and lyft up the clowtt.3

[He sees the sheep.

What the dewill is this ? He has a long snowte.

Coll. He is merkyd 4 amys, we wate ill5 abowte.

Gib. ' Ill-spon weft,’ iwys, ' ay commys foull owte.’

Ay, so !

He is lyke to oure shepe !

Daw. How, Gyb, may I pepe 6 ?

Coll. I trow ' Kynde 7 will crepe 8

Where it may not go.9 ’

Gib. This was a qwantt gawde,10 and a far[e] 11 cast ;

It was a hee 12 frawde.

Daw. Yee, syrs, wast.13

Lett bren 14 this bawde, and bynd hir fast.

' A fals skawde15 hang[s] at the last.’

So shall thou.

Wyll ye se how thay swedyll 16
His foure feytt in the medyll ?

Sagh I never in a credyll

A hornyd lad or 17 now.

Mak. Peasse byd I ! What, lett be youre fare 1
I am he that hym gatt,18 and yond woman hym bare.

1 See 553 22

2 whimpers

3 cloth

4 fashioned (marked ?)
6 wait to no purpose

6 have a look

< nature

8 A proverb; also found in Everyman, 1. 316

9 walk

40 trick

11 See 538 27

12 high, deep

13 was it

14 bum
16 scold

16 swathe, swaddle
1" before
18 begot

THE TOWNELEY SECUNDA PASTORUM 549

Coll. What dewill shall he hatt,1 Mak ? Lo, God, Makys 2 ayre 8 !
Gib. Lett be all that, now God gyf hym care,

I sagh.4

Gill. A pratty child is he

As syttys on a womans 6 kne, 5

A dyllydowne,6 perde,

To gar7 a man laghe.

Daw. I know hym by the eeremarke — that is a good tokyn.

Mak. I tell you, syrs, hark ! Hys noyse 8 was brokyn ;

Sythen 9 told me a dark 10 that he was forspokyn.11 io

Coll. This is a fals wark. I wold fayn be wrokyn 12 ;

Gett wepyn.

Gill. He was takyn with 13 an elfe,

I saw it myself ;

When the clok stroke twelf 15

Was he forshapyn.14

Gib. Ye two ar well feft15 sam 16 in a17 stede.

Coll.w Syn thay manteyn thare theft, let do thaym to dede.19
Mak. If I trespas eft, gyrd of 20 my heede ;

With you will I be left.21

Daw ,22 Syrs, do my reede : 20

Ffor this trespas

We will nawther ban 28 ne flyte,24
Ffyght nor chyte,2'5
Bot have done as tyte,26

And cast hym in canvas. 25

[ They go outside , and toss Mak in a sheet.

1 be called, named

2 Mak’s
s heir

4 say

5 MS. wamans (em. M.)

6 darling

7 make

8 nose
* since

1° MS. clerk
n bewitched
12 avenged
18 enchanted by

14 transformed

15 endowed

16 together

17 one

18 MS. iiius pastor (em. M.)

19 death

20 strike off

21 you shall judge

22 MS. primus pastor (em. M.)
28 curse

24 scold

26 chide

26 as quickly as possible

550

PLAYS

SCENE VII

The fields near Bethlehem of Judea. Enter the Three Shepherds

[Coll}'] Lord, what I am sore, in poynt for to bryst 2 I
In fayth I may no more ; therfor wyll I ryst.3
Gib. As a shepe of vii skore 4 he weyd in my fyst.

Ffor to slepe aywhore 5 me thynk that I lyst.

Daw. Now, I pray you,

Lyg downe on this grene.

Coll. On these thefys yit I mene.'

Daw. Wherto shuld ye tene 7 ?

Do 8 as I say you.

An Angel appears , and sings Gloria in excelsis.

Then the Angel addresses the shepherds : 9
Angel. Ryse, hyrdmen heynd 10 1 for now is he borne
That shall take fro the feynd that Adam had lorne 11 ;

That warloo 12 to sheynd,18 this nyght is he borne.

God is made youre freynd now at this morne,

He behestys.14
At Bedlem go se ;

Ther lygys that fre 14
In a cryb full poorely,

Betwyx two bestys. [Exit.

Coll. This was a qwant stevyn 16 as 17 ever yit I hard.

It is a mervell to nevyn 18 thus to be skard.19
Gib. Of Godys Son of hevyn he spak upward.20
All the wod on a levyn 21 me thoght that he gard 22
Appere.

1 era, M.

2 burst
8 rest

4 seven score pounds

5 anywhere
8 think

1 trouble

8 MS. so (em. M.)

9 MS. Angelus cantat ' Gloria
in excelsis,’ postea dicat :
40 gentle

11 lost

12 wizard
18 destroy

14 promises

15 noble one

16 voice

17 MS. that (err suggested

by M.)

18 name, speak

19 frightened

20 from above

21 lightning

22 made

THE TOWNELEY SECUNDA PASTORUM

551

Daw. He spake of a Barne
In Bedlem, I you warne.

Coll. That betokyns yond starne 1 ; .[. Pointing to the sky.

Let us seke hym there.

Gib. Say, what was his song ? Hard ye not how he crakt1 2 3 it,
Thre brefes 8 to a long ?

Daw. Yee, Mary, he hakt 4 it.

Was no crochett wrong, nor no thyng that lakt it.

Coll. Ffor to syng us emong, right as he knakt it,5
I can.

Gib. Let se how ye croyne !

Can ye bark at the mone ?

Daw. Hold youre tonges ! Have done 1

Coll. Hark after, than ! \They sing.

Gib. To Bedlem he bad that we shuld gang;

I am full fard 6 that we tary to lang.

Daw. Be mery and not sad — of myrth is oure sang !

Everlastyng glad 7 to mede 8 may we fang,9
Withoutt noyse.

Coll. Hy 10 we theder forthy,11
If 12 we be wete and wery,

To that Chyld and that lady ;

We have it not to lose.

Gib. We fynde by the prophecy — let be youre dyn ! —
Of David and Isay, and mo then I myn,18
Thay prophecyed by clergy 14 that in a vyrgyn
Shuld he lyght and ly, to slokyn 16 oure syn
And slake16 it,

1 nom.

2 trilled (?); MS. crakyd

3 breves (three breves were accounted

equal to one long in the music of
that period)

4 warbled (?)

5 threw it off
8 afeared
l gladness

8 for reward

9 receive

1# hie

n therefore
12 even if
18 remember

14 learning

15 quench

16 slacken, abate

552

PLAYS

TSave] oure kynde1 2 * from wo,

Ffor Isay sayd so :

Ecce 2 Virgo

Contipirt 8 a chylde that is nakyd.

5 Daw. Ffull glad may we be, and abyde that day,

That Lufly to se, that all myghtys may.4
Lord, well were me, for ones and for ay,

Myght I knele on my kne, som word for to say
To that Chylde.

io Bot the angell sayd

In a cryb wos he layde,

He was poorly arayd,

Both meke6 and mylde.

Coll. Patryarkes that has bene, and prophetys beforne,
1 5 Thay desyryd to have sene 6 this Chylde that is borne.

Thay ar gone full clene ; that have thay lorne.

We shall se hym, I weyn, or it be morne,

To tokyn.7
When I se hym and fele,

20 Then wot I full weyll

It is true as steyll

That prophetys have spokyn :

To so poore as we ar[e] that he wold appere,

Ffyrst fynd, and declare by his messyngere.

25 Gib. Go we now, let us fare, the place is us nere.

Daw. I am redy and yare,8 go we in fere9
To that Bright.10

1 race 5 MS. mener (em. K.)

2 MS. cite (em. E.) « Matt. 13. 17

8 Isa. 7. 14 (Vulgate) 7 as a sign

* has power over all mights 8 prepared

9 together

10 bright one

THE TOWNELEY SECUNDA PASTORUM

553

Lord, if thi wyll 1 be —

We ar lewde2 all thre —

Thou grauntt us somkyns 8 gle

To comforth thi Wight.4

SCENE VIII

Bethlehem. A stable. Enter the Shepherds , and kneel

Coll. Hayll, comly and clene ! Hayll, yong Child ! 5

Hayll, Maker, as I meyne, of 6 a madyn so mylde !

Thou has waryd,6 I weyne, the warlo so wylde ;

The fals gyler7 of teyn,8 now goys he begylde. —

Lo, he merys,9

Lo, he laghys, my Swetyng ! — 10

A wel fare 10 metyng ;

I have holden my hetyng.11 —

Have a bob 12 of cherys.

Gib. Hayll, sufferan 13 Savyoure ! Ffor thou has us soght,
Hayll, frely Foyde14 and Floure, that all thyng has wroght ! 15

Hayll, full of favoure, that made all of noght !

Hayll ! I kneyll and I cowre. A byrd have I broght
To my Bame.

Hayll, lytyll tyne 15 Mop 16 !

Of oure crede thou art Crop.17 20

I wold diynk on thy cop,18

Lytyll Daystarne.19

Daw. Hayll, Derlyng dere, full of godhede !
I pray the be nere when that I have nede.

1 MS. wylles

2 simple, ignorant

3 of some kind

4 creature

5 from

® cursed

7 beguiler (Satan)

3 of sorrow, sorrowful

9 grows merry

10 very fair

11 promise

12 bunch, cluster

13 sovereign
n noble child

I3 tiny

16 baby, young creature

17 See Heb. 12. 2

18 from thy cup

19 See 2 Pet. 1. 19 ; Rev. 22. 16

554

PLAYS

Hayll, swete is thy chere ! My hart wold blede

To se the sytt here in so poore wede,

With no pennys.

Hayll 1 Put furth thy dall 1 !

I bryng the bot a ball ;

Have and play the 2 3 withall,

And go to the tenys.8

Mary. The Fader of heven, God omnypotent,

That sett all on seven,4 * his Son has he sent.

My name couth 6 he 0 neven,7 and lyght 8 or he went.

I conceyvyd hym 9 full even thrugh myght, as he ment,

And now is he borne.

He kepe you fro wo !

I shall pray hym so ;

Tell furth as ye go,

And myn 10 on this morne.

Coll. Ffarewell, lady, so fare to beholde,

With thy Chylde on thi kne !

Gib. Bot he lygys full cold.

Lord, well is me ; now we go, thou behold.

Daw. Fforsothe, allredy it semys to be told
Full oft.

Coll. What grace we have fun 11 !

Gib. Com furth, now ar we won 12 !

Daw. To syng ar we bun,18

Let take on loft.14 [They sing.

Explicit Pagina PastorumP

1 fist, hand

2 refl.

3 tennis (well known in Eng¬

land by the end of the
fourteenth century)

4 created all things in seven

days (?)

5 did

6 God the Father

7 name

8 alighted, descended

(on me)

9 Christ

10 think

11 found

12 rescued, saved
18 bound

44 let us sing aloud
16 Here ends The Shepherds’
Pageant

Date Due

M9&

MAR £

W75 ~

N0\

2 b m

Twm

CAT. NO. 23 233 PRINTED IN U.S.A.

PR 1120 C6

Cook. Albert S. (Albert S
A iterary Middle English read

010101 000

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070

TRENT UNIVERSITY

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